"Stefanos Tsitsipas' downfall is insane, tennis is just something he does for money";"Biggest fraud" - Fans react to Greek's shock US Open 1R exit

World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas was knocked out in the first round of the 2024 US Open after he was thoroughly outplayed by Thanasi Kokkinakis. Tsitsipas' dismal Flushing Meadows outing on Tuesday, August 27, prompted fans to express their views on the drastic decline of the player, who previously reached the finals of the 2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open.

Tsitsipas went into his first-round encounter against Kokkinakis as the clear favorite to win but a shock seemed to be on the cards after the Greek lost the first set to the Australian 6-7(5). Tsitsipas managed to level things up by clinching the second set 6-4. However, ultimately, it was Kokkinakis who took the next two sets 6-3, 7-5, condemning the Greek to yet another early exit from the US Open.

In seven main draw appearances at the prestigious hardcourt Major, Tsitsipas has never managed to go beyond the third round. His latest defeat to Kokkinakis marks the second time in three years that he has been ousted from the US Open at the first hurdle.

Unsurprisingly, fans on X (formerly Twitter) reacted to Tsitsipas' defeat, with many voicing their concern over the Greek's poor recent run of form.

"Tsitsipas downfall is insane, but makes a lot of sense, tennis is very much a sport you need to love the grind to get the best out of it, he once did, but it’s clear it’s a job for him now and just something he does for money," a fan wrote.

"He was looking like the second coming of Bjorn Borg a few years ago and then he just hit a wall. Tennis is a really tough sport to stay at the top of year after," commented another fan.

"Huge upset here. Tsitsipas struggles when facing players who can hit the ball with a lot of pace... overall, a disappointing result for him," another chimed in.

"Tsitsipas in freefall," added another.

There were others who ridiculed Tsitsipas over his underwhelming display against Kokkinakis.

"Stefanos is the biggest fraud on tour and I'll die on that hill. He's never winning a grand slam unless he plays against my great great grandmother every round, and she's not even alive," wrote one fan.

"TSITSIPAS, another player who's battling in the trenches. US Open has always been his weakest slam," another opined.

"Lmfaoooo Tsitsipas is Tsitsitrash," joked yet another fan.

After the match, Stefanos Tsitsipas reflected on his recent woes and confessed his patchy form may be stemming from unresolved physical and mental exhaustion.

"I do feel like there is some sort of long-term burnout" - Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas (Source: Getty)

After losing to Kokkinakis, Stefanos Tsitsipas opened up about his dismal US Open Series form. The Greek was dumped out of the National Bank Open in Montreal by the aging Kei Nishikori, and then suffered yet another humbling loss to the young Jack Draper at the Cincinnati Open.

According to Stefanos Tsitsipas, a "long-term burnout" is a likely reason for his poor performances of late. The former World No. 3 admitted that he has been feeling this way since the start of the ongoing season, even though his form earlier in the year was not as bad.

In April, Tsitsipas won the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters for the third time and then reached the final of the Barcelona Open.

"I’m not an expert, I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I’ve had these discussions before with some of the people that I’ve spoken to and I do feel like there is some sort of like a long-term burnout. I’ve already been feeling it since the beginning of the year," Tsitsipas said.

"I feel like it’s a top of burnout that, regardless if you stop or not, it has happened already and it’s not going to repair or regenerate itself just purely because of vacation or staying away from the courts," he added.

Stefanos Tsitsipas though, is still in contention for the year-end Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. In the live race to the prestigious event, the Greek currently finds himself in 10th. However, his results have to improve soon if he wants to cement his place at the event that he won in 2019.