French Open heroics for Hamburg finalists Tsitsipas and Rublev

Just two days after playing each other in the Hamburg final, both Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev come back from two sets to love down to advance at the French Open.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rome 2020

Ricky Dimon

September 29, 2020

French Open first round
Tsitsipas d. Munar 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Key info: Tsitsipas had finished runner-up in Hamburg just two days earlier
You will also learn: Andrey Rublev, who beat Tsitsipas on Sunday, also came from 2-0 down to win
Why you should read this story: Tsitsipas said he had never played a match like this one before

If Stefanos Tsitsipas was ready to pack his bags after trailing Jaume Munar two sets to love at the French Open on Tuesday evening, you could not blame have blamed him. After all, the world No 6 had just finished runner-up to Andrey Rublev in Hamburg two days earlier — losing a thrilling final at the 500-point tournament.

Nonetheless, Tsitsipas was not about to go away without a fight. The 22-year-old ended up coming all the way back to bear Munar in five sets after three hours and 12 minutes.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played a match like this before,” he said during his on-court interview. “The emotions were not there at the beginning. It wasn’t working out for me at all in the beginning; nothing was working. Everything was not responding. But I’m really proud of myself for the effort I put in and the amount of dedication.

“Playing a best-of-fiver can be very challenging. I’m very happy that I will walk away from Suzanne-Lenglen with a ‘W.'”

The stuff of Greek gods. 🇬🇷⚡️@StefTsitsipas survives a five set battle, coming back from two sets down to defeat Munar and head to round two.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Vaoh9yqaOC

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 29, 2020

Rublev also recovers from 2-0 down

Tsitsipas was only following the lead of the man who defeated him on Sunday in Hamburg.

Rublev found himself in even deeper trouble against Sam Querrey, not only trailing two sets to love but also by 5-2 in the third set. All but out of the tournament, the 13th-ranked Russian snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Rublev’s improbable comeback resulted in a 6-7(5), 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 triumph that required three hours and 17 minutes of play.

Sunday: Rublev & Tsitsipas play Hamburg final

Tuesday: Rublev & Tsitsipas both come back from 2 sets down to win in #RG20 R1

🤯🤝 pic.twitter.com/CwpEH1PMsE

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 29, 2020

Although Rublev was thrilled on the court after he won, he was not entirely pleased while talking at his post-match press conference.

“My attitude was horrible,” he admitted. “I was just so lucky. The attitude today was really horrible. If I want to improve and I want to compete on a good level, this is not acceptable. I need to change it.

“I was feeling completely tight. I choke (on) another level. Since the first point of the match till the last point of the match I was completely frozen. I couldn’t take one step; I could only hit. I was tight like I don’t know. Not many times I was tight like this.”