A back injury compelled sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to withdraw from the ATP Finals on Tuesday, ending his match against Holger Rune in the first set, where he trailed 2-1.
The unexpected decision handed Rune his inaugural victory in the season-ending tournament.
Expressing regret, the 25-year-old Tsitsipas apologised to fans and the audience, stating, "I'm truly disappointed that I couldn't complete the match." Despite following medical advice and preparing for the game, Tsitsipas experienced significant discomfort on the court, leading to his withdrawal.
With no chance of advancing to the semi-finals after two defeats, Tsitsipas will be replaced by Hubert Hurkacz in the final match against Novak Djokovic. Tsitsipas acknowledged encountering issues during the warm-up, and the pain became overwhelming during play.
Although Tsitsipas had downplayed reports of an elbow injury earlier, he suggested that a hectic schedule and insufficient rest may have contributed to his withdrawal. The ATP's scheduling practices, criticised for late-night matches and limited recovery times, faced renewed scrutiny.
In the upcoming match, Djokovic aims to secure a semi-final spot with a game to spare against Jannik Sinner, who seeks to become the first Italian to reach the tournament's last four. Djokovic, having already clinched the top spot in the year-end world rankings, eyes an eighth record-extending achievement. Victory in Turin would elevate his Grand Slam count to an all-time best of 24, setting the stage for a potential seventh Finals title and surpassing Roger Federer's record.
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