Stefanos Tsitsipas’ dreadful run of form has persisted, with the Greek star suffering a first-round defeat to the injured Hamad Medjedovic at the Qatar Open.
In an astonishing display, Medjedovic fought through the final 20 minutes of the match limping along on one leg, following a hamstring injury sustained during the third set.
The 21-year-old hit the ground in agony, grasping his hamstring after an overly ambitious slide along the baseline led to a full split.
After taking a brief medical timeout, Medjedovic refused to concede defeat and returned to the court, managing to maintain his serve despite his limitations.
Hamad Medjedovic clutches at his hamstring. TennisTV
As his opponent struggled with mobility, Tsitsipas fought back to level the match before ultimately pushing it to a second tiebreak.
Even with his limitations, Medjedovic showed remarkable resilience, racing to a 4-1 lead over Tsitsipas.
With the match approaching the three-hour mark, Tsitsipas responded, taking full advantage of a couple of unforced errors to close the gap.
Hamad Medjedovic shakes hands with Stefano Tsitsipas at the Qatar Open. TennisTV
However, Tsitsipas’ determined efforts were not enough to withstand the pressure exerted by his opponent, with Medjedovic ultimately clinching victory with a powerful serve down the ‘T’, finishing the match 7-6, 5-7, 7-5.
Tsitsipas has now fallen to No. 11 in the world rankings, while Medjedovic holds the 73rd spot.
Medjedovic is set to take on Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last 16 on Thursday (AEDT), although it’s uncertain if he will be fit to compete.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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