Stefanos Tsitsipas saw his Wimbledon campaign come to a premature halt after retiring from his opening match while trailing French qualifier Valentin Royer by two sets, 6-3, 6-2. The Greek star, who has long been one of the sport’s top-ranked players, struggled throughout the encounter with limited mobility and clear signs of discomfort stemming from a back injury.
The match began with Royer quickly asserting control. Combining sharp serves with aggressive court positioning, the 21-year-old took advantage of a subdued performance from Tsitsipas, whose usual baseline power and court coverage appeared compromised. Midway through the second set, Tsitsipas consulted with the physio, but after continued difficulty in movement, he made the decision to retire before a third set began.
Royer, participating in his first Wimbledon main draw, showed poise and precision beyond his years. Despite the abrupt end, his confident performance made a strong impression, and he moves on to the next round having handled the pressure of facing a major opponent with composure.
Tsitsipas will now turn his focus to recovery as concerns rise around his long-term fitness heading into the summer hard-court season. With a packed calendar ahead, managing his physical condition will be a key priority if he’s to remain competitive among the tour’s elite.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2025
Ranked world no.26, the Greek played his last match on the 1st of January 1970 when he lost to world no.113 Valentin Royer 6-3 6-2 in the 1st round in Wimbledon (draw).
This year the Greek has a compiled 19-13 win-loss record. This year, the Greek won 1 tournament in Dubai.
