Stefanos Tsitsipas posted a creative sendoff after exiting the Miami Masters, saying the tennis competition in Miami is “fiercer than the Miami Dolphins defense.” On Tuesday, Tsitsipas exited the Miami Masters in the round-of-16 after Karen Khachanov handed him a 7-6 (4) 6-4 defeat.
After the match, Tsitsipas acknowledged the hot Miami conditions and also gave a bit of a nice shout-out to NFL’s Dolphins. “In Miami, the tennis is as hot as the weather and the competition is fiercer than the Miami Dolphins defense.
Thank you for the great time @miamiopen!” Tsitsipas wrote on Instagram.
Tsitsipas loses to Khachanov for the first time
Prior to their Miami match, Tsitsipas enjoyed a perfect 6-0 record against Khachanov.
But on Tuesday, Khachanov delivered a strong performance to finally clinch his first win over Tsitsipas. “They say third time is a charm, but for me it took seven times, so I’m super happy. Not most importantly that I beat Stefanos, but I think with the way I’m playing.
After the Australian Open I had some issue with an injury. I came back in Dubai without having played many matches and I’m just happy to continue that level. I just want to continue that way, enjoy the process, and enjoy the journey.
It continues,” Khachanov said after beating Tsitsipas. In the first set, Tsitsipas had the only break points but the Greek missed out on two break points in the seventh game. As no breaks were seen, the first set had to be resolved in a tie-break – where Khachanov converted his first set point to win a tight opener.
After winning the first set, Khachanov also clinched the first break of the match in the fifth game of the second set. Up by a set and a break, Khachanov held on to his serve for the rest of the match to complete a two-set win over Tsitsipas. Now that Tsitsipas is out of Miami, he will turn his focus on the clay season and Monte Carlo Masters.
