Google News Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts to surviving Laslo Djere challenge in tight Acapulco opener
by DZEVAD MESIC
No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted it wasn't easy against world No. 51 Laslo Djere even though he clinched a straight-set in his Acapulco opener. Tsitsipas, ranked at No. 4 in the world, defeated Djere in two tight sets 7-6 (7) 7-6 (4) to progress into the Acapulco round-of-16.
“It was very challenging,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview, per the ATP website. “There were a lot of tight moments today. It was not easy coming in and trying to adjust, but I felt much more comfortable game after game.
There was a point where I was getting ahead and playing my best tennis. He put up a great fight and he wasn’t easy to crack. But those two tie-breaks I managed really well and managed to execute my game plan”.
Djere made Tsitsipas worked hard in Acapulco opener
Djere claimed the first break of the match in the seventh game and then saved two break points in the following game to take a 5-3 lead.
Djere missed out on a set point on his serve in the 10th game but took an early 3-0 lead in the tie-break. Djere also failed to convert a set point in the tie-break as Tsitsipas realized his third set point to steal the first set.
After winning the first set, Tsitsipas broke Djere in the opening game of the second set. Djere refused to quit and managed to work his way back into the set as he broke back Tsitsipas in the 10th game to eventually force a tie-break.
In the tie-break, Tsitsipas took a comfortable 6-2 lead before realizing his third match point to get the job done in straight sets. “The fans are really engaged, and they love tennis here,” Tsitsipas added. “A lot of the players are getting good support including me and it is electric out there on court. It is one of the best atmospheres at an ATP 500 I have played”. Tsitsipas plays next JJ Wolf.