Opinion – James Spencer (Twitter – @jspencer28)
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas ended a year’s drought without an ATP title in style as he won the Monte Carlo Masters last weekend.
The delight on his face was evident as he fought off the impressive challenge of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
The Spaniard at one point threatened to take the match into a decider but was unable to serve out the second set.
It capped a fabulous week for Tsitsipas who comprehensively beat rival Alexander Zverev in the semi’s and edged past a tough Diego Schwartzman, after trailing 4-0 in the final set.
The overall triumph and the victories last week will give the Greek supreme confidence these next few weeks, going into the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.
The cherry on top would be the French Open.
Last year, Tsitsipas was two sets up on Novak Djokovic, before choking and losing in five.
The pressure of becoming a newbie to the Grand Slam winners circle perhaps got the better of him.
However, he will be stronger from the loss and winning a second Masters 1000 title, a second in Monte Carlo, will give Tsitsipas fresh belief that he can attack the French Open this May.
With the King of Clay Rafa Nadal injured on the sidelines (for now).
And Djokovic flunking to shock defeats to Jiri Vesley in Dubai, and Davidovich Fokina last week in Monte Carlo, it’s anyone’s game.
Now Daniil Medvedev has joined the big four, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Dominic Thiem in that illustrious group of Grand Slam winners, that should ease the burden on the Athenian.
The flat defeats to Medvedev in Australia and Cameron Norrie in Acapulco are firmly behind him now after this latest success.
Tsitsipas will be attempting to go back-to-back this week in Barcelona.
Yesterday’s match against Belarus’ Ilya Ivashka was called off due to rain, with the 23-year-old Greek 5-1 up and cruising towards the opening set.
He will be no doubt eyeing another prestigious clay-court title, in the absence of Nadal.
Ironically on the court named after the Spanish idol, Pista Rafael Nadal.
However, young star Carlos Alcaraz may certainly have a say about that in his homeland.
As will Schwartzman, who will be gunning for revenge after last week’s closely run contest.
One thing is for sure, Tsitsipas has his groove back on clay and will be a match for anyone now.
