“Alcaraz or Djokovic” Stefanos Tsitsipas names his French Open favourites, omits Rafael Nadal
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Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas
World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas came close to his 9th career title but had to settle for his 12th runners-up trophy as he lost to World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2022 Rome Masters, his third final of the season while it was the second for Novak. Djokovic won the match 6-0, 7-6(5) to claim his 6th title in Rome and 38th Masters title.
With Stefanos opting to miss this week’s event and be ready for the 2022 French Open, the Greek has prepared well for the major with consistent results in the Golden Swing. He started the clay season with a successful title defence at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters. He then made it to the quarter-finals in the 2022 Barcelona Open followed by a semi-final finish in the 2022 Madrid Masters before reaching Rome where he improved to a runner-up finish.
With Stef being one of the finalists at the 2021 French Open, he has been dubbed as one of the serious contenders for the Grand Slam this season. The player himself however believes otherwise and refuses to name himself as one of the favourites unless he makes necessary changes to his game.
“Right now Carlos Alcaraz. Too many names. Right now Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic. They both play great, great tennis. I would put them as favourites. Right now I need to improve a few things in my game. I don’t know if I’m going to get there, but I hope I do with my hard work by the time Roland Garros begins. I’d love myself to get around with these players and be there with them. But I will really need to put a bit more attention to detail in the next couple of weeks,” said Stef after his finals in Rome while addressing the press.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas has suffered defeats to both Alcaraz and Djokovic this season
While Stef met Novak for the first time this season in the finals in Rome, he has played Carlos Alcaraz twice this season. They first met in the 4th round of the 2022 Miami Masters which Alcaraz won in straight-sets much to the surprise of tennis fans. The duo then met in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open where Alcaraz edged Stef in a high-intensity 3-setter that had Alcaraz been caught for on-court coaching while Stef aimed a body shot at the teen.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)