Olympics, Tokyo, tennis: Tsitsipas and Tiafoe again against after Wimbledon

Tsitsipas and Tiafoe i crossed paths a few weeks ago, on the noble and regal grass of Wimbledon. It was the first round, with the Greek returning from the final at Roland Garros (defeat in five sets, comeback, against Novak Djokovic) and among the main candidates to go all the way. But the progress of the number 4 in the world stopped almost without even starting: a surprise victory for the American, who played a game of the highest level and took advantage of the opponent’s empty passes, in the first match of the season on the grass. Tiafoe even won in three sets, not leaving the slightest chance to Tsitsipas: 6-4 6-3 6-3 for the boy born in ’98. The two meet at the Tokyo Olympics: will it be the Greek’s revenge or the American’s further bang?

FIRST ROUND

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On his debut in Tokyo, in the first round, Stefanos Tsitsipas got the better of the German Philipp Kohlschreiber but not without some difficulties: the Greek lost the second set, after winning the first, and had to recover in the third, then winning 6 -3. For Tiafoe there was instead the Kwon pitfall, cleverly overcome with a 6-3 6-2 never questioned.

SEASON

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There are four precedents between Tsitsipas and Tiafoe, both born in ’98. The last, as mentioned, is very recent. Previously, however, only victories for the Greek had come: 6-4 6-2 on Yokyo’s hardcourt in 2017, success in 2018 at the Next Gen and victory in three sets at the Hopman Cup, again on hard courts (as in Tokyo). The Greek has won two titles this season, both on clay: in Monte Carlo, in the final against Rublev (6-3 6-3) and in Lyon, against Cameron Norrie (6-3 6-3 also in that case). The American instead triumphed in the Nottingham Challenger, on grass, beating compatriot Kudla in the final. In the major circuit, Tiafoe reached the quarter-finals in Miami (hard) and Queen’s (grass), a tournament won by our Matteo Berrettini before Wimbledon.