Stefanos Tsitsipas won his first title on Grass on Saturday as he beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) in the Mallorca Open final. The current world number six Tennis player held his nerve in a deciding tie-break after failing to serve out the match at 5-3.
It is the second title of the year for Tsitsipas and also the ninth of his career who defended his Monte Carlo Masters crown on clay in April. Agut, who was eyeing his second title of 2022 to add to his 10 career titles, will be up against Atilla Balazs in the first round at Wimbledon.
Tsitsipas begins his Wimbledon campaign next week against Swiss qualifier Alexander Ritschard. Last year’s French Open runner-up has lost in the first round in three of his four trips to the All England Club.
Tsitsipas was cruising in the third set after getting an early break to open up a 4-1 lead. But Bautista Agut who is ranked 20th in the world rankings broke Tsitsipas who was serving for the win and forced the tie-breaker. Agut also beat the world-number-1 ranked Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.
Tsitsipas has been ranked as high as no 3 among tennis players in the world which he first achieved on 9th August 2021, making him the highest ranked Greek player ever. The 23-year-old player has climbed high on the ladder of success ever since he picked up the racquet. He won the ATP finals in 2019 making him the youngest winner of the championship in 18 years.
Tsitsipas was introduced to Tennis at the age of 3 and began training at 6. He was also ranked no 1 in the world as a junior. He has won 9 ATP singles titles and appeared in a Major Final at the 2021 French Open, which he lost to Novak Djokovic after leading by two sets to love.
