Stefanos Tsitsipas is about to start his run in Madrid, where he was the runner-up in the last edition of the event back in 2019 when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. The Madrid Open was not staged in 2020 because of the global pandemic.
Stefanos has a weird record in the Spanish capital. He played only one before reaching the final in 2019 and he lost as early as in the first round in 2018.
During the press conference that preceded the Madrid Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas explained his Spanish ambitions.
“My expectations, I won’t lie to you, are to come as close to my [previous] result, which was the final. I’m really pumped for this week, for the next week as well. I feel like I’m getting close.
I feel like I can create opportunities and maybe get to [be ranked] No. 4,” Tsitsipas said.
Tsitsipas vs. Paire
Stefanos Tsitsipas will face Benoit Paire in his first match. They fought against each other 3 times. Their record is 2-1 for Tsitsipas. Previously, the last time when they fought against each other, Stefanos Tsitsipas won 6-3 6-1 in the 1st round in Acapulco (Abierto Mexicano Telcel) on the 16th of March 2021.
Here the video highlights.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021
Now the world no.5 (career-high), Tsitsipas played his last encounter on the 25th of April when he was defeated by world no.2 Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-7(6) 7-5 in the final in Barcelona (draw).
During this season Tsitsipas achieved a compiled 26-6 record. This year, Stefanos won 1 tournament in Monte-Carlo. Tsitsipas got to the final in Acapulco and in Barcelona.
Paire in Madrid, ranking, and results in 2021
Ranked no.35, Paire has managed to achieve a 2-10 match record in 2021. The French player is now competing in Madrid where he defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4 7-5.
Benoit Paire will fight against the world no.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2nd round on Wednesday at 8:00 pm on MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM. Their record is 2-1 for Tsitsipas.
