Tsitsipas Is the Latest to Come Close, and Learn How Far He Must Go

Dominic Thiem broke the long run of the Big Three — Djokovic, 34; Nadal, 35; and Federer, 39 — by winning last year’s U.S. Open, but he did not have to defeat any of them along the way. Nadal skipped the event over virus concerns, and Federer was recovering from knee surgery. Djokovic eliminated himself in the fourth round by smacking a ball that inadvertently hit a lineswoman in the throat, resulting in his ejection.

But Thiem has faded, struggling mentally with the tour’s pandemic-related restrictions and straining to retain his drive and excellence. He has been touchingly open about his doubts, but his slump also makes you marvel at the drive and sustained focus of a player like Djokovic, who has had plenty of pandemic concerns of his own and actually tested positive for the coronavirus. Djokovic had his own fade from late 2016 to early 2018, but he has come back at full roar and full stretch. (Nobody can stretch the way Djokovic does.)

The younger generation, however talented, has yet to break through and win the titles that matter most against the players who matter most.

Tsitsipas, a 22-year-old seeded fifth in this tournament, seems to have it in him. He possesses the ambition and the tools: a big bang of a forehand, a forceful and varied serve, a one-handed backhand that he can drive effectively from higher contact points or slice to change the pace of points and defend in the corners. He also has above-average volleys that he could have put to more frequent use on Sunday, no matter how daunting it is to face Djokovic’s passing shots.

Tsitsipas, the son of a Russian mother and Greek father, is a great athlete, not just a great tennis player. He is quick on the move with improving core strength and with a hairstyle and rolling walk that recall Bjorn Borg, the great Swedish champion who, now 65, awarded the trophies on Sunday looking as cool as ever. (He skipped the socks with the loafers.)

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/13/sports/tennis/stefanos-tsitsipas-novak-djokovic-french-open-final.html