Tennis enthusiasts know that following Stefanos Tsitsipas can be quite a rollercoaster.
At times, it feels as though the Greek player struggles to find his rhythm, and his recent performances support that notion. Once ranked third in the world, Tsitsipas has slid to 30th place and hasn’t secured three back-to-back wins since March.
Back then, he was sitting at 8th and seemed poised for a resurgence this season.
Unfortunately, the 26-year-old has only managed to win nine out of his last 17 matches, putting his seed status for the US Open at risk.
ATP Toronto: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Christopher O’Connell
There’s always drama off the court involving Tsitsipas, but the noise around him has intensified lately.
His high-profile breakup with WTA player Paula Badosa came right before he was set to compete on hard courts in North America, along with a coaching split from Goran Ivanisevic.
This kind of upheaval could possibly be what he needs to turn his season around, though it raises concerns when such issues seem to repeatedly plague his camp.
Tsitsipas is undeniably one of the most gifted players on the ATP Tour, capable of outplaying opponents like Christopher O’Connell. However, O’Connell represents a specific kind of challenge that could frustrate the Greek’s fiery temperament.
O’Connell is determined and knows he’ll need to extend the match if he hopes to rattle Tsitsipas.
O’Connell had a tough time on grass courts earlier in the season, struggling to adapt. However, he’s coming off a dominant first-round victory over Chun Hussin Tsen in Canada, which might bolster his confidence.
While Tsitsipas is certainly able to handle O’Connell quickly, this matchup is likely to unfold with plenty of unexpected moments.
Games over 23.5 might be the play to consider.
