French Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas rallies past John Isner to book a place in the fourth round

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat John Isner 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-1 in the third round of French Open 2021 on Friday night at Philippe-Chatrier court. It was the Greek’s 36th victory this year, most in the men’s tour. The No. 31’s loss means that there are no Americans left in the men’s draw. It was their fifth meeting and first on clay and the 5th seed Tsitsipas had the upper hand (3-2). Meanwhile in the previous meeting at Acapulco Tsitsipas beat Isner 6-3, 6-2.

The big hitting Isner won the first set before Tsitsipas came back to take three sets. Dealing with the Americans’ big serve’s were difficult especially on clay court where the ball bounces a bit higher.

After losing the first set the Greek got a bit annoyed and frustrated, then upped his game to win the match convincingly in the end.

“The match was pretty much one pattern, kept repeating itself,” he said. “It was kind of difficult to adjust, I felt my body a little cold, a little bit of anger, frustration, I let it out, that eventually woke me up to be able to handle future situations a little better.”

“He’s one of the toughest guys to play, the serve is obviously a big obstacle,” Tsitsipas said.

“I didn’t have the best start, things started going my way in the second set, I started finding my returns and my rhythm from the baseline and I think my head kind of cleaned up and led me to that important victory.”

The 22-year-old got the break in the middle of the second set, and then after taking the third on the tie break, 7-3, he broke early in the fourth and held the advantage to go through to the fourth round for a third consecutive year.

The 6ft 5in, tall Tsitsipas is the favourite to come through from the bottom half of the draw. He came into Paris having won the title at Monte-Carlo and was within a point of beating Rafael Nadal in the Barcelona final.

Last year’s semi-finalist, Tsitsipas will next face 12th seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the last 16. A man whom he has beaten in the previous two meetings.