“I’m in the substitutes,” Stefanos Tsitsipas considers himself a role model for kids after the Big-3 following his second-round exit from the US Open 2023 

Stefanos Tsitsipas was really graceful in his defeat in the second-round match at the 2023 US Open.

“I’m in the substitutes,” Stefanos Tsitsipas considers himself a role model for kids after the Big-3 following his second-round exit from the US Open 2023 

Stefanos Tsitsipas explains why he signed autograph for fans after his defeat in the second round at the US Open (Images via X)

Stefanos Tsitsipas had a tough outing in his second-round match at the 2023 US Open. The seventh seed went down in a five-set thriller against Dominic Stricker. Tsitsipas was devastated with the result but he still cared enough for the kids in the stands as the Greek signed autographs with fans.

Tsitisipas was asked about this gesture in the post-match presser and the Greek had a rather touching reply ready. Tsitisipas explained this thought process and said that he has been in this position and knows how it feels. The 25-year-old also claimed that he is only behind the Big 3 when it comes to being a role model for the kids.

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Tsitsipas explained that although it was really tough to be out there after ending on the wrong side of the result, he did it only for the kids. The 25-year-old said he could not ignore the look on the kids’ faces.

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“It’s not an easy thing to stay there. I saw the little kids, little kids’ faces that kind of touched my heart, because I was at their position once upon a time, and I really looked up to players like me in this occasion now. I consider myself someone that kids look up to. Probably not as much as Roger, Rafa, Novak, but I’m somewhere there in the substitutes (smiling),” said the Greek ace.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas feels the ripples of his defeat in the third round

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via TOI)

The defeat in the third round at the Flushing Meadows was a tough pill to swallow for Stefanos Tsitsipas. While the Greek graciously accepted the defeat and congratulated his opponent for playing well, his coach Mark Philippoussis felt the ripples of the defeat. The Australian lost his job after a month of getting onboarded.

However, Tsitsipas said that he takes the blame for the defeat. “Everything on court is under my control and under my talents,” said Tsitsipas in his on-court interview. “That’s what happened this summer. I was not good enough to deliver and score good results. I won’t blame it on anything.”

The world no.7 has not had a great year so far. While Tsitsipas started the year with a bang, qualifying for the finals of the 2023 Australian Open, his graph went downhill. At the French Open, he made it to the quarterfinals. At The Championships, he bowed out after losing in the pre-quarterfinals. Now, at the year’s last Grand Slam, Tsitsipas had a second-round exit.

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