'Don't wonder why I hit you': Tsitsipas initiates frosty exchange after throwing away match point
- Christian Montegan
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Stefanos Tsitsipas' 2025 struggles have worsened after a disappointing second round loss to unseeded German Daniel Altmaier at the US Open.
The marathon five-set match lasted four hours and 21 minutes, with Altmaier miraculously fending off at least one break point in four straight service games and saving match point in the fifth set to topple the former world No.3 by a scoreline of 7-6(5), 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
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During the fourth set, when Altmaier started his comeback from two sets to one down, he attempted an underarm serve that infuriated Tsitsipas, firing the ball in the direction of his German opponent.
"Next time, don't wonder why I hit you, ok?... No, I'm just saying if you serve underarm... if you serve underarm," Tsitsipas said as he shook hands with Altmaier.
Altmaier replied, "It's best if you just leave", before walking away from the heated altercation.
He later told Sky Sports: "Tomorrow, Stefanos will regret his words. In football, fists fly, or people get into arguments.
"In tennis, you say something that might not be appropriate. That's part of the sport. A lot of money and self-confidence are at stake.
"When you're playing tennis until midnight, you can sometimes say something you don't really mean. Or maybe he does. I respected that."
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Tsitsipas has now failed to surpass the second round of a Grand Slam tournament this year, slipping to 27th in the live rankings. He also hasn't won back-to-back matches since April's Barcelona Open.
The 27-year-old rehired his father, Apostolos, as coach prior to the Toronto Masters at the end of July, having controversially parted ways with former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević.
Alex de Minaur will meet world No.56 Altmaier in the third round at Flushing Meadows, as the Aussie eighth seed aims to take advantage of an open section of the draw by not having to face a top 50 opponent until the quarter-finals.
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