World No 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas casts doubt on his participation at the Australian Open after the Greek’s ATP Cup defeat by Diego Schwartzman was compounded by elbow pain
- Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas may not be featuring at the Australian Open
- Tsitsipas, 23, has recently returned to the playing circuit from elbow surgery
- After losing to Diego Schwartzman at the ATP Cup he said he felt continued pain
- The Australian Open starts on January 17 in Melbourne but Tsitsipas is unsure
Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has cast doubt on his place at the Australian Open, suggesting he may miss the first Grand Slam of the year due to ongoing pain in his elbow.
The Greek star recently returned to the courts following surgery, yet after exiting the ATP Cup at the hands of Diego Schwartzman, he has admitted that something is still not quite right.
Speaking after his 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 defeat to the Argentina star, world No 4 Tsitsipas told the BBC that after playing in the doubles on Saturday he was ‘in a lot of pain’.
Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has cast doubt on his place at the Australian Open this month
He said: ‘That is enough [time to recover], I believe.
‘But I haven’t had [this kind of injury] before, so I don’t know. It’s my first time experiencing something like this.’
The Australian Open starts on January 17 in Melbourne meaning the Greek ace now faces a battle to be fully fit and comfortable in time.
The 23-year-old was beaten by Diego Schwartzman and complained of pain in his elbow
Tsitsipas won the first set against Schwartzman before the 29-year-old rallied to win the match and secure victory for Team Argentina.
‘I was just trying to think that it was his first match for two months after his elbow [injury], so I was thinking just to try and be in the match,’ said Schwartzman.
‘I had the chance and I think I was ready. I am very happy because playing against Stefanos and being a set and a break down is not easy, but I found a way.’
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