Daniel Altmaier is completely surprising in the third round at the US Open. The 26-year-old defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in a high-tensioning and nerve-wracking five-set thriller on the night from Thursday to Friday with 7: 6, 1: 6, 4: 6, 6: 3 and 7: 5 and is therefore in the third round at the Grand Slam tournament in New York.
For Altmaier it was the second five-set thriller in a row. Already in the first round, the Kempener had to survive a marathon match over five sets against Hamad Medjedovic. Against Tsitsipas, the full Grand Slam distance was now also going on.
Good start for Altmaier
Altmaier had started a good start, taking Tsitsipas the first set in the tie -break. After that, however, it looked over two rounds as if the German had to pay tribute to the effort from the first round. The Greek won both sentences relatively easily – but Altmaier then found the game back.
After collecting a break quickly in the fourth round, the 26-year-old came back, got the rebreak directly and then immediately again a break. Tsitsipas seemed more and more annoyed, shot Altmaier on the net and started struggling. Father Apostolos, too, became more and more restless in the stands, talked more and more to his son and was warned in the course of the fourth sentence that the German ended up.
Altmaier: “My heart left on the pitch”
The fifth sentence had to bring the decision. Up to 5: 5, both were able to withstand the pressure, then Altmaier was there immediately on the first break chance, subsequently brought his impact game nerve-wracked and sagged after 4:21 hours of play and the match ball was stunned.
Completely invalidated: Daniel Altmaier
The German deliberately ignored the fact that Tsitsipas unnecessarily wanted to confront him with the hand shake on the network and can now look forward to his third round game against Alex de Minaur. “I feel a huge relief. I left my whole heart on the pitch”said Altmaier overjoyed after the game.