Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a much-needed win on Friday, avenging his August defeat to Japan’s Kei Nishikori with a straight-sets victory at the Shanghai Masters, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. Tsitsipas, who has struggled with form in recent months, was particularly satisfied with his performance, saying he showed “great fighting spirit” in overcoming the challenge.
The win was especially sweet for the Greek player, who had suffered a surprising defeat to Nishikori in Montreal. “I’m glad of the win,” Tsitsipas said after the match, adding, “I’m pleased I managed to overcome the obstacle of Kei.”
Once ranked third in the world, Tsitsipas has dropped to 12th in the ATP rankings and has recently made significant changes to his coaching team, including parting ways with his father. The 26-year-old expressed his determination to put up a fight and prove he could deliver a strong performance against Nishikori.
The match was closely contested, with the first set going to a tense tiebreaker that Tsitsipas won 8-6. He described the win in the tiebreaker as a “critical moment,” saying it gave him the confidence to reset his mindset and go on to take control of the match.
Nishikori, 34, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, required a medical time-out during the second set. Despite the support from the crowd, he was unable to regain momentum, and Tsitsipas won four of the last five games to seal the victory.
Earlier in the day, American players Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul advanced to the third round. Shelton defeated Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-5, while Paul comfortably beat Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3. Veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils also advanced after a hard-fought win over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, setting up a clash with compatriot Ugo Humbert in the next round. Monfils, 38, won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 against his 23-year-old opponent.
