There was once a time, not so long ago, when matches between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas occurred on the most significant occasions this sport has to offer. Djokovic was Tsitsipas’s opponent in both of the Greek player’s grand slam finals at the 2021 French Open and then the 2023 Australian Open. In Paris, Tsitsipas led Djokovic by two sets.
Back then, even if he never managed to beat Djokovic in a big final, Tsitsipas was surely convinced that he would at least be around long enough to soar when age finally caught up with the Serb. Instead, it is Tsitsipas who has tumbled down the rankings in recent years and who entered their second-round match as great an underdog against a 39-year-old Djokovic as he has ever been. He was eaten alive by the veteran, who produced an incredible performance to reach the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
