ATP Rotterdam 2023: World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas has advanced to the second round of the ATP Rotterdam. The Australian Open 2023 runner-up, who is also the the top-seeded defeated Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday, 14th February 2023. Follow ATP Rotterdam 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
ATP Rotterdam 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets in first round of ATP Rotterdam 2023 – Watch Tsitsipas vs Ruusuvuori Highlights
Stefanos Tsitsipas shook off some early struggles to make an ultimately confident start to his 2023 ATP Rotterdam. Tsitsipas was greeted with an early barrage of clean hitting from the World No. 52 Ruusuvuori at the indoor ATP 500 event.
The Greek trailed 3-5 in the opening set but, as he has done so often already in the 2023 season, he dialled in behind his serve and forehand to grind his way back into the match. Tsitsipas won 10 of the next 11 games to accelerate away from the Finn for a one-hour, 33-minute victory.
“My footwork got better over time,” said Tsitsipas post-match. “I think I wasn’t very well adjusted in those first few games, and it took a little bit of time to find the right footwork, [get used to] the speed of the court, [acclimatise] to the new conditions.
“I had an opportunity in the last game [when Ruusuvuori led 5-3] to come back. I revived from that, I regenerated some awesome tennis and I recaptured that first set, which was crucial. I think from that point onwards it was flawless tennis. I was able to produce some really good shots.”
“The process that you get to repeat these things over and over again, it gives you tremendous understanding of how things actually work,” said Tsitsipas. “When you’re younger, you try your best but of course lack experience. I think being able to get in these moments more and more often on the Tour helps you understand, makes you wiser when you’re trying to deal with all these problems.”
Tsitsipas now holds a 13-1 record for the season, with his only defeat coming against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open championship match. The 24-year-old’s next test in Rotterdam, where he reached the final in 2022, will be a second-round clash against Jannik Sinner or Benjamin Bonzi.
ATP Rotterdam 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets in first round of ATP Rotterdam 2023 – Watch Tsitsipas vs Ruusuvuori Highlights
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