How Stefanos Tsitsipas prevented Djokovic from being at his best vs. Nadal. COACH

Stefanos Tsitsipas was eager to have a shot at winning his first major in Paris, but Novak Djokovic stopped him in the semifinal after a tough match. The Greek sensation didn’t start at his very best against the world no.1. Novak had the opportunity to lead 2 sets to love and he had the chance to serve out the match already in the 3rd set when leading 5-4. However, that was the moment when Stefanos fought back to bring the match miraculously to the 5th sets. However, world no.6 started to suffer from a problem with his leg and eventually he lost the decider without being able to put too much resistance.

Nevertheless, Tsitsipas’ comeback was rather deleterious for the world no.1. According to his coach, Marian Vajda, Novak lost a lot of energy trying to contain Stefanos’ comeback.

“Rafa delivered an excellent performance in the final, finding incredible depth with his strokes. Novak was not entirely at 100% after that semi-final marathon against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Too bad that he lost the fourth set against the Greek, having to play a decider to advance and losing energy,” Marian Vajda commented.

Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2020

Ranked world no.6, Tsitsipas played his last match on the 19^th of November when he was overcome by Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-6 6-2 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).

At the moment, this season the Greek has a composed 27-14 record. The Greek clinched 1 title in Marseille. Tsitsipas was the runner-up in Dubai and in Hamburg.

Novak Djokovic in 2020

Now ranked no.1, Novak played his last match on the 21^st of November when he lost to Dominic Thiem 7-5 6-7¹⁰ 7-6⁵ in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).

Presently, this year the Serbian has an overall 41-5 match record. Djokovic conquered 4 titles in 2020 at the Australian Open, in Dubai, in New York and in Rome. Djokovic reached the final at the French Open.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic played each other 6 times. The head to head is 4-2 for Djokovic. The last time that they played each other, Novak Djokovic won 6-3 6-2 5-7 4-6 6-1 in the semifinal in Paris (French Open) on the 9^th of October 2020.

Rafael Nadal in 2020

Ranked no.2, the Spaniard played his last match on the 21^st of November when he capitulated to Daniil Medvedev 3-6 7-6⁴ 6-3 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).

Currently, this season Rafael has a 27-7 record. The Spaniard has won 2 titles in 2020 in Acapulco and at the French Open.