Match Report
Tsitsipas wins ‘two battles’ to beat Carballes Baena in Paris opener
Greek retains his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes alive with R1 win
October 28, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Roberto Carballes Baena on Monday on the Rolex Paris Masters.
By ATP Employees
Stefanos Tsitsipas confirmed he is able to dig deep in his pursuit of a Nitto ATP Finals spot on Monday night on the Rolex Paris Masters.
The Greek shook off a tough begin to overcome Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and e-book his second-round berth on the indoor ATP Masters 1000. Tsitsipas hit 36 winners to Carballes Baena’s 15 to safe a one-hour, 59-minute triumph and advance to face Alejandro Tabilo or Nuno Borges.
“I didn’t begin so nicely. I had an upset abdomen and wasn’t feeling so nice on the court docket,” stated Tsitsipas, who has reached the semi-finals in Paris in every of the previous two years. “I couldn’t even pump myself up originally of the match, as a result of when one thing is bothering you that a lot, it takes your whole focus and focus. That was maybe the second battle I used to be going through right now, together with my opponent.”
The 26-year-old Tsitsipas is twelfth within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin. He’s chasing a sixth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals look, however would require a deep run in Paris if he’s to remain in competition for a spot on the prestigious season finale this yr.
“It’s going to take lots for me to qualify, so if I handle to up my tennis throughout this complete week, let’s see,” stated Tsitsipas, who’s presently 705 factors shy of eighth-placed Andrey Rublev within the Reside Race. “If I’m in a position to ship one thing good right here, I suppose that additionally earns me a spot in Turin. No matter that. I’m simply making an attempt to enhance and really feel my recreation the very best I can.”
Carballes Baena broke within the fifth recreation of the match after which fended off two break factors within the tenth recreation earlier than sealing the opening set. The Spaniard, who was chasing his first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory towards Tsitsipas on the fourth try, then reclaimed an early break within the second set as he appeared to spring an upset. But he was unable to take care of his momentum.
The 11-time tour-level titlist Tsitsipas instantly broke his opponent’s serve for 3-1 and had no troubles holding agency behind his supply from there en path to levelling the match. He then bookended the deciding set with additional breaks of Carballes Baena’s serve, which proved sufficient for him to finish his a centesimal ATP Masters 1000 main-draw victory.
⭐️ Citing a century in type ⭐️
@steftsitsipas digs deep to document his 1⃣0⃣0⃣th ATP Masters 1000 match win!
#RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/vaFs6VTGTT— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 28, 2024
After ending the match having gained 80 per cent (36/45) of factors behind his first supply, in keeping with Infosys ATP Stats, Tsitsipas acknowledged that an enchancment in his bodily state because the match wore on had been key to turning it round.
“It took a very long time for me to really feel higher,” mirrored the World No. 11. “It was very unusual. It doesn’t occur fairly often. I simply needed to really feel higher, as a result of I knew I used to be enjoying good tennis. I didn’t have an ideal begin, however there have been so many issues on my thoughts at that second, I wasn’t in a position to play clearly and with image.
“Ultimately I discovered the tennis that I needed. It took some time to get to that time, however I knew that if I bought to the purpose of feeling my recreation and aligning with my photographs, it maybe would have been sufficient to win that match. He wasn’t giving me a lot. I knew that he was going to struggle however I knew I had some weapons that would damage him lots and I used these in direction of the top.”