Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered a strong opening performance at the U.S. Open, upsetting No. 10 Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 on Monday. The victory marked a significant milestone for the unseeded Greek player, who entered the tournament ranked No. 88, his lowest in over eight years.
Just twelve months prior, Tsitsipas left Flushing Meadows facing uncertainty about his career after a severe back injury left him unable to walk for two days. He spent months managing physical pain, witnessing his ranking decline and questioning his commitment to the sport.
"It was tough," Tsitsipas said after his match. "It was something that I never really experienced before… I remember saying to my team, ‘I don’t know for how long that’s going to continue.’ I stayed strong. I kept believing. I knew deep inside that I will have a moment again."
The former world No. 3, who has a history of struggling at the U.S. Open despite success at other Grand Slams, appeared unseeded in Louis Armstrong Stadium for the first time in his career. The win against Fils, who had recently won the Cincinnati Open, was Tsitsipas's first victory against the Frenchman in six encounters.
"I am speechless," Tsitsipas stated. "It’s very easy to not feel confident, especially when you haven’t beaten top players in a long time. That’s why I’m very ecstatic about today. It’s one of those moments that you are able to look back and be, like, I’ve still got the game that I’m looking for."
Tsitsipas’s struggles were attributed partly to his injury and partly to a shift in his coaching situation. Following an early exit at Wimbledon, he parted ways with his father and longtime coach, Apostolos Tsitsipas. He is now working with Thomas Perrin and Patrick Mouratoglou, known for his past work with Serena Williams.
"I personally felt like I needed it," Tsitsipas explained. "I needed a different voice. I needed someone that provides a little bit more calm into my tennis world. There was a lot of chaos surrounding me before and a lot of noise. It took a long time to figure it out and realize that I just can’t cope with it anymore."
He added the importance of "having people that sometimes bring the best out of you instead of the worst version of you, these are some of the things that need fixing."
Despite a hard-court record that includes an Australian Open final appearance and three semifinal runs there, Tsitsipas had never advanced past the third round at the U.S. Open. In his previous five appearances in New York, he was eliminated by unseeded opponents.
Now unburdened by expectations, Tsitsipas expressed optimism about his future performances. "Why not?" he responded when asked if his best days might still be ahead.