The match ends after just three games Stefanos Tsitsipas against Holger Runeon the second day of Green Group. At the Pala Alpitour the Greek abandons (amidst some boos from the crowd) at the second changeover, after a brief conversation with the physiotherapist. Tsitsipas had played the first games without visible problems, with Rune leading 2-1 but that he had been forced to save two break points in the initial game. The number 6 on the scoreboard returned to the locker room on his own legs and without a limp, although rather stiff in his movements. Already not 100%, the trouble involved the back, as confirmed later in the press conference. Tsitsipas then announced his official withdrawal from the tournament: in his place comes the first alternate, the Pole Hubert Hurkaczwho will challenge Djokovic in the third and final match on Thursday.
What changes for Sinner for the semi-final
The withdrawal of Tsitsipas after 3 games he gives away a great advantage to Runewhich takes the victory by two sets to zero and above all save energy in view of the last match of the Green Group, which will see him opposed to Jannik Sinner. However, the Italian has a great opportunity this evening: winning two sets to zero against Novak Djokovicwould already be arithmetically promoted to semi-final. However, Nole will also be able to enter the top four already, overcoming (in two or three sets) the world no.4.
The Green Group ranking
Rune 1-1 (3-2, 16-19)
Sinner 1-0 (2-0, 12-8)
Djokovic 1-0 (2-1, 19-16)
Tsitsipas 0-2 (0-4, 8-12) *
*withdrawn
Tsitsipas: “Back injury, sorry for the public”
Stefanos Tsitsipas he presented himself at the press conference apologizing with the fans: “I apologize to all the fans and the public who were here today to support me in this match. I’m really broken for not being able to finish the match and it’s a real shame that we couldn’t offer this place to someone else to try and do something good. Both the doctors and the numerous tests carried out they had given me the green light to play. Unfortunately I was really sick on the pitch. I did everything I could to be ready for this match, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. I had been training in the last few days even though I hadn’t spent much time on the pitch. I had difficulty moving and it’s hard to try to play when you experience these types of problems. It’s tennis, it’s not darts. It’s important for me to feel fit and feel good about myself backbut right from the warm-up when I was trying to serve I felt the first discomfort and then increasingly severe pain in my back. And at that point it was clear to me that maybe I wouldn’t be able to finish the match.”
2023-11-14 19:03:53
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