Stefanos Tsitsipas has been knocked out of the US Open at the first round after a 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 7-5 defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Tsitsipas has never reached the second week at the US Open and the Greek’s dismal record in New York continues as he lost in four sets to Kokkinakis.
The Australian was bold, precise and accurate in his play as he knocked out the 11th seed, who is still without a coach after sacking his father after Montreal.
Tsitsipas made the worst possible start to the match as the lack of confidence was there for all to see with the Greek being broken in the opening game.
Eventually Tsitsipas broke back in the eighth game but played a poor tiebreak which he eventually lost 7-5.
In the second set both players shared breaks of serve before Tsitsipas played a clean return game in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead.
The world number eleven would close out the second set to level the match at one set all.
The Grandstand court were preparing themselves for a Tsitsipas revival but they were more likely to see the New York Giants winning the superbowl than seeing that scenario.
Kokkinakis was aggressive and proactive as he exposed Tsitsipas’ vulnerability as the eleventh seed never really turned up.
The world number 86 completed the victory with a comfortable break in the eleventh game before closing out the four hour victory.
Kokkinakis will now play Nuno Borges or Federico Coria while Tsitsipas will now head to the airport.
However Tsitsipas wasn’t the only upset of the day as Felix Auger-Aliassime was dumped out of the US Open by Jakub Mensik in a comprehensive straight sets loss.
The Canadian was in-form heading into this match but was never really likely to win this match as the 18 year-old prodigy sailed into the second round.
