Stefanos Tsitsipas suffers shock first-round loss to Daniel Galán at US Open
The defending US Open champion was sent by a 7-4, 1-6, 6-7 (3-7) loss against the 19-year-old Galán in the first round of the 2018 US Open.
The American teen took the first set 7-5 before falling to the Spaniard 7-6 (1-6), 7-2 in the second.
The loss was a career-threatening blow for the 16-year-old Tsitsipas who, despite his win-loss record in Grand Slam doubles, will return to the competition in the coming weeks where he will look to find his own level.
With the loss, Tsitsipas’ record in Grand Slam doubles at a major is now down to five wins, one loss and one draw.
“This is the first time that I’ve lost in the first round at a major (US Open) and it is hard to react,” said Tsitsipas to the media in the aftermath.
“I am a very emotional boy, I’m an emotional person. I know that it could have been different today. It could have been different. A lot of things can happen in a day. I have to work my way back up.”
The 20-year-old Colombian, who was born and spent his childhood in Bogota, is one of the world’s best junior players and won the boys’ title in Miami the last time the US Open was held here in 2016.
Galán had a great run at the season-ending event the year before and was the only man who made the final in both singles and doubles. However, he has yet to make his breakthrough in the sport, winning just one match at a Grand Slam event since.
It is an achievement that has been well documented; he is considered to be one of the best players around and his play in Europe has been solid.
