Stefanos Tsitsipas experiences his first setback of the brand new season

Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a troublesome loss on the United Cup. The previous Main finalist fell to Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 52 minutes in Greece’s loss to Kazakhstan. World no. 78 outplayed world no. 11 behind the second serve and prevailed in pivotal moments. 

Alexander confronted two break factors and dropped serve as soon as. He took 40% of the return factors and supplied two breaks from 4 probabilities, bringing house considered one of his best victories. Stefanos pulled the break again within the second set and prolonged his probabilities. 

Nevertheless, he dropped the tie break 7-0 to expertise his first defeat of the season. 

OUT OF THIS WORLD 🤯

Shevchenko continues to work his magic within the second set 🇰🇿#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/AjpoCtySMz

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 30, 2024

Stefanos kicked off the match with two wonderful holds and created a break likelihood at 2-1 after Alexander’s forehand error. The Kazakh denied it after an prolonged rally and held for 2-2 after extra deuces. Tsitsipas confronted points on serve at 3-3.

He missed a routine forehand and supplied his rival a break likelihood. World no. 11 hit a expensive double fault, dropping serve and falling 4-3 behind. Shevchenko fired a service winner within the eighth recreation for 5-3 and served for the opener in recreation ten. 

Alexander Shevchenko & Stefanos Tsitsipas, United Cup 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Stefanos landed a return winner for 30-15 however couldn’t do a lot in opposition to the rival’s three service winners. Thus, Alexander claimed the opener 6-4 in 43 minutes. Tsitsipas didn’t really feel effectively in difficult situations, taking a medical timeout after the primary level of the second set.

He continued and skilled a break at love, sending his opponent nearer to the end line. Shevchenko supplied two wonderful holds and had an opportunity to seal the cope with one other break in recreation 5. Nevertheless, Tsitsipas denied two break factors and remained in rivalry. 

Alexander Shevchenko, United Cup 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Greek survived extra deuces on serve within the seventh recreation and made a push on the return at 3-4. Alexander missed a recreation level and skilled a break after Stefanos’ forehand drive-volley winner. Thus, the favourite locked the outcome at 4-4, bettering his probabilities. 

They served effectively within the remaining 4 video games and launched a tie break. Tsitsipas performed a wild forehand within the first level and missed one other two factors later to fall 3-0 behind. Shevchenko claimed two extra mini-breaks, opening a 5-0 lead after the rival’s double fault. 

The Kazakh generated six match factors with a service winner and transformed the primary after the rival’s volley mistake, sealing the deal and sending his workforce in entrance.