Last Updated: March 09, 2023, 07:56 IST
Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas (Twitter)
Stefanos Tsitsipas downplayed his expectations for the Indian Wells ATP Masters, saying he is nonetheless battling the shoulder damage that noticed him pull out of Acapulco final month
World quantity three Stefanos Tsitsipas stated he doesn’t count on to place up a lot of a combat at Indian Wells or the Miami Open as he continues to nurse a shoulder damage he suffered earlier within the yr.
“I’m nonetheless in restoration and I received’t be pretending… that I’ve probabilities of doing effectively in these subsequent two tournaments, as a result of that will be mistaken,” he said bluntly at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I haven’t said it a lot of times in my career but I don’t think I will be capable of going deep. The main priority is getting my body ready and fixed for the clay court swing.”
Asked why he didn’t merely withdraw from the Masters 1000 occasions at Indian Wells and the Miami Open, which collectively comprise the “Sunshine Double,” he said he felt compelled to compete.
“I made a deal with myself that I will not be skipping the next two events,” he stated.
The 24-year-old Greek began the yr on a excessive when he reached his first Australian Open last in January however stated he had injured the shoulder quickly after leaving Melbourne.
The damage, which compelled him to withdraw from the match in Acapulco final month, was the results of the influence the shoulder had suffered amid continuous play over the previous few years, he stated.
“I have to take my time and have the suitable medical workforce by my aspect to assist me get well to the fullest and never have issues like this sooner or later,” he said.
“When you are dealing with situations like this, the only thing you wish to yourself is to have a career that’s healthy, where you can go out on the court and give it your all without any repercussions.
“We’ve seen it with some champions like Rafa Nadal who have been struggling with injuries for a long time but are still able to play at a pretty good level.”
The second-seeded Tsitsipas will play his first match of the match on Friday.
Tsitsipas, seeded second behind world quantity two Carlos Alcaraz — with Djokovic nonetheless barred from the United States due to his resolution to not be vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19 — has a first-round bye and is scheduled to open his marketing campaign in opposition to both French veteran Gael Monfils or Australian Jordan Thompson — who play Wednesday evening.
Monfils, 36, is returning to motion seven months after he retired from a match in Montreal with a foot damage that turned out to be a plantar fascia rupture.
It may also be Monfils’ first match since he and his spouse, WTA participant Elina Svitolina, welcomed the beginning of daughter, Skai, in October.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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