Stefanos Tsitsipas down against qualifier, Nick Kyrgios wins ‘nightmare’ at US Open | Sport

Stefanos Tsitsipas has got stuck in the first round at the US Open. The number 4 of the placement list had to recognize his superior in Colombian Daniel Elahi Galán in a remarkable match with 6-0 6-1 3-6 7-5.

The 24-year-old Tsitsipas started the duel with the global number 94 dramatically. He only managed to win a game when he trailed 6-0 5-0. In the third set, Tsitsipas seemed to be slowly but surely taking the game to himself and in the fourth set he took a 4-2 lead. However, the Greek was unable to force a fifth set and made a mistake on the ninth match point for Galán.

Tsitsipas has never managed to make it to the second week in New York. Last year he lost the third round in the United States, his best performance at the last grand slam tournament of the year.

Brandon Holt celebrates his win. © AP

At the same time, tenth-seeded American Taylor Fritz was also eliminated. He was surprised in four sets by his compatriot Brandon Holt. It was 6-7 (3) 7-6 (1) 6-3 6-4 for the number 303 in the world, the son of two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin (1979 & 1981).

Fritz (24) could have been the opponent in the third round of Botic van de Zandschulp, who is placed 21st in New York. Fritz has never reached further than the third round in his own country.

Kyrgios defeats friend Kokkinakis

Nick Kyrgios has reached the second round at the expense of his friend and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis. Kyrgios, placed 23rd in New York, was too strong for Kokkinakis in the Arthur Ashe stadium in three sets: 6-3 6-4 7-6 (4). “To be honest, this was a nightmare, we never want to play against each other,” Kyrgios said. “I can’t wait to double with him on the same side of the net.”

Kyrgios (27) and Kokkinakis (26) won the Australian Open as doubles at the beginning of this year. The two Australians will also play together again in New York. However, the singles draw resulted in a first-round clash between the two friends. They took to the track after Serena Williams postponed her possible retirement in a packed stadium by beating Danka Kovinic.

“I will never forget this evening,” said Kyrgios. ,,It was crazy to play against one of my best friends in front of a record number of spectators after Serena’s possible last game. We know each other’s game through and through. This was therefore one of the most uncomfortable matches ever in my career. I tried not to look at him. I felt like that helped me a little bit.”

Kyrgios reached the Wimbledon final last month, in which he lost to the Serbian Novak Djokovic. In the run-up to the US Open, the current number 25 in the world won the ATP tournament in Washington and with Kokkinakis he took the doubles title in Atlanta.

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nyck Kyrgios shake hands.

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nyck Kyrgios shake hands. © AP

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