Stefanos Tsitsipas Takes a Subtle Dig at Wimbledon for Poor Management of Scheduling

Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas has stepped on the courts at Wimbledon on more days than any other player this year. A tough draw with names like Dominic Thiem and Andy Murray have led to long drawn and competitive matches and unfavorable weather conditions have meant that the organizers have had to do a juggling act to wrap up all matches.

Many players have had to play on consecutive days just to finish their matches and get the tournament along. Only the top-ranked players have had a fairly normal tournament given the fact that they’ve played their matches on courts with roofs.

Stefanos Tsitsipas Was Dealt With Bad Luck

The No. 5 seed was also competing in the men’s doubles, pairing with his brother, Petros. As most of the tennis was missed due to the weather, the schedule of conducting matches got cramped up. As a result, it wasn’t the best outcome for the Greek player. 

Stefanos spoke on this issue and stated,

“No, I haven’t. This is a first timer for me. I was earlier in the locker rooms, the gym getting ready for my doubles match with my brother, only to find out that it’s not meant to be today. For another time, again. Quite unusual.”

For a player to play for five days in a row is absurd in a Grand Slam tournament. To add to the misery, it does affect an athlete’s mentality when they are preparing for a match in the locker room only to find out that it is postponed not too long before. 

Tsitsipas seemed to have taken a dig at the organizers when addressing a question in his post match press conference after beating Andy Murray.

“I’ve dealt with these situations in junior tournaments before maybe once or twice. I don’t think to that degree in any professional tournament that I’ve played in my career. Yeah, that’s the very first time.”

Getting Over Two Huge Obstacles

Reflecting on the 24-year-old’s performance at SW19 so far, he’s faced former Grand Slam winner Dominic Thiem in the opening round. It was a fierce battle between the two with the Greek eventually winning the match 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6. The match went on for two days. 

In the following round, he was up against two-time champion Andy Murray. Similar to his first round match this one had to be wrapped over the course of two days, eventually being decided in five sets with the Greek getting the better of the veteran, 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

The third round match was relatively routine for Stef which he won in straight sets against Laslo Djere. He is now set to play American player Christopher Eubanks for his Round of 16 match in what will be the first clash between the two players.