(New York) The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seventh player in the world, was beaten on Wednesday by the Swiss Dominic Stricker (N.128) in the second round of the United States Open, 7-5, 6-7 (2/7) , 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
To sign this feat, the debonair-looking Swiss striker boldly played his luck with flashes, perpetually looking for the killer shot, often close to the lines.
In total, the former junior world number three, with no real reference on the main circuit, signed no less than 78 winning strokes.
Facing him, Tsitsipas was, at times, able to count on his first ball (22 aces), especially during the two consecutive decisive games in the second and third sets.
But he also exposed himself in the second ball to the counterattacks of Stricker, who took the service of Tsitsipas six times.
The Swiss also stormed the net, with a nice success (42 points gained uphill).
This is the first benchmark success for Stricker, who recently explained that he had disciplined himself on the diet plan, one of his weak points.
In the third round, Stricker will cross paths with the winner of the match between Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi and American Christopher Eubanks.
Novak Djokovic quietly continued his road to a 24th Grand Slam title on Wednesday by outclassing the Spaniard Bernabe Zapata (76th) 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in two hours sharp in the second round.
“The first run was complicated because it’s hot and very humid. Then the shadow covered the court and it got a little better. But it’s the same for both players,” commented Djokovic.
“I didn’t start the match very well, but in the second and third sets, I raised my level by two or three notches”, he congratulated himself, considering however that he was able to “play better than that”. .
The 36-year-old Serb, world No.2, but already assured of becoming No.1 again at the end of the tournament regardless of the results, will be opposed on Friday to his compatriot Laslo Djere (38th) for a place in the round of 16.
Djokovic, absent last year for refusing the covid vaccine, is hoping to win a fourth title at Flushing Meadows to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Casper Ruud, 5th in the world and finalist last year, was eliminated in the second round by the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang (67th) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2.
The 24-year-old Norwegian reached the final at Roland-Garros again this year, as in 2022, but he was beaten in the second round in Australia, at Wimbledon and therefore at Flushing Meadows. It is therefore Zhang who will face the Australian Rinky Hijikata (110th) for a place in the round of 16.
A clay court specialist, Ruud has not lined up two consecutive victories on hard courts this season.
Zhang, on the other hand, had played five Grand Slams before these US Opens: he had always lost in the first round, except for Roland-Garros this year when he reached the third round.
Against Ruud, he had 60 winners (against 39 for his opponent) and committed 41 unforced errors (against 32).
He reached the quarter-finals this year in Madrid, where he was the first Chinese to reach this stage in Masters 1000, and the semi-finals in Hamburg. In October 2022, he became the first Chinese to join the ATP top 100.
