Tsitsipas pulls out of ATP Cup singles as a precautionary measure; wins doubles

Tsitsipas had undergone an elbow surgery in late November and the ATP Cup is his first event since then

Tennis – ATP Cup – Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, Australia – January 1, 2022 Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas after withdrawing from his group stage match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz || 216642_0066

Haresh Ramchandani

January 1, 2022

ATP Cup 2022 | Results| Schedule

World No 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled out of the highly anticipated all-top 10 clash against Hubert Hurkacz at the ATP Cup but did win the doubles rubber as Greece went down to Poland 1-2 in first day’s play at the men’s team tennis event.

Tsitsipas was due to take on Hurkcaz in the second singles rubber of the Greece vs Poland tie but the 23-year-old pulled out just before the match and was replaced by Aristotelis Thanos, ranked No 1076 in the world. The Greek had undergone surgery on his right elbow on November 25 after being forced to retire from the second round of the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in November (lost his opening group match to Andrey Rublev) due to the elbow injury.

Tsitsipas said that his withdrawal from the singles match was a precautionary measure related to his elbow and that he wants to ensure he remains fit for Melbourne, which hosts the Australian Open starting January 17.

We hope to see you on court soon, @steftsitsipas 🤞💙#ATPCup | #TeamGreece pic.twitter.com/7WNay24gk6
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 1, 2022

“It takes a bit of time to get to the level I want to” – Tsitsipas

After Poland assured themselves of a win by winning the two singles – Hurkacz had defeated 20-year-old Thanos 6-1, 6-2 in 46 minutes after Kamil Majchrzak beat Pervolarakis 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes – Tsitsipas partnered Michail Pervolarakis to score a 6-4, 5-7, 10-8 win over Hurkacz/ Jan Zielinski in the doubles.

Speaking to the press after the doubles match, Tsitsipas said he did not want to take the court if he was not 100% ready for the singles match.

“If I’m not able to perform at 100 per cent, for me there’s no reason for me to go out there and play.”

The Greek insisted that his recovery from the elbow surgery is on track and he feels pain-free after two years of discomfort. “I’m truly relieved that I’m able to feel normal again after years and years of suffering. The concern was kind of something that I expected, but it’s not serious. I’m just trying to protect it. I’ve been using some muscles that I haven’t been able to use before and it takes a little bit of time to get into the rhythm and get to the level I want to.”

Tsitsipas reached his first Grand Slam final in 2021, going down to Novak Djokovic in five sets at Roland-Garros. After stating that he wanted to aim higher in 2022, the Greek was pragmatic enough to admit that he has different goals and wants to see how the first quarter of the new season goes.

Speaking in Greek after the doubles match in Sydney, Stefanos Tsitsipas says he had different goals for the new season before the surgery: “I want to see how the first trimester goes”.
— Vicky Georgatou (@VGeorgatou) January 1, 2022

Group D

Greece 1 – 2 Poland

Majchrzak (POL) b. Pervolarakis (GRE) : 6-1, 6-4
Hurkacz (POL) b. Thanos (GRE) : 6-1, 6-2
Pervolarakis / S. Ttsitsipas b. Hurkacz / Zielinski : 6-4, 5-7, 10-8

Argentina 3 – 0 Georgia

Delbonis (ARG) b. Metreveli (GEO) : 6-1, 6-2
Schwartzman (ARG) b. Basilashvili (GEO) : 6-1, 6-2
Gonzalez / Molteni (ARG) b. Purtseladze / Tkemaladze (GEO) : 6-1, 6-2

Group A

Chile 0 – 3 Spain

Carreño Busta (SPA) b. Tabilo (CHI) : 6-4, 7-6
Bautista Agut (SPA) b. Garin (CHI) : 6-0, 6-3
Davidovich Fokina / Martinez (SPA) b. Barrios Vera / Tabilo (CHI) : 7-6, 4-6, 10-7

Serbia 2 – 1 Noway