Tsitsipas falls in first test as Fabbiano avenges 2018 Wimbledon loss

Entering Wimbledon, Stefanos Tsitsipas was tipped as one of the players capable of ending the Big 3’s dominance at the All England Club. On Monday, the world No. 6 was tripped up at his first hurdle.

Thomas Fabbiano eliminated Tsitsipas, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3, to pull off the first major upset on the men’s side, avenging his defeat to the Greek in the 2018 Wimbledon third round. Fabbiano came into the grass major having reached the semifinals in Eastbourne after successfully qualifying at the ATP 250 event. The 30-year-old notched his first Top 10 victory in four attempts.

"I would say that last year his forehand was not the same. He improved a lot on his forehand. It's very uncomfortable," Tsitsipas told press. "You basically have to guess where he's going to play. Last year was the easiest victory I had in Wimbledon. I played unbelievable in that match."

Tsitsipas saved two match points in the fourth-set tiebreaker, and held two break points for a chance to open a 2-0 lead in the decisive set, but couldn’t capitalize. The Italian broke for 4-3 and won the final four games of the match to set a second-round meeting with 40-year-old Ivo Karlovic.

For the 20-year-old Tsitsipas, his disappointing grass season came to a harsh end. A semifinalist at this year's Australian Open, where he knocked off Roger Federer, Tsitsipas had enjoyed a strong run on clay. He won the title in Estoril, defeated Rafael Nadal to reach the Madrid final and backed it up with a semifinal showing in Rome. After losing a thrilling five-setter to Stan Wawrinka in the Roland Garros round of 16 that left him devastated, Tsitsipas was unable to bounce back on grass, going 2-3.

"It was very, very difficult to overcome that match. I was really disappointed. I am disappointed now," Tsitsipas said of his Paris loss to Wawrinka.

"People expected things from me. I didn't deliver. When you get so much support, so much energy, so much positivity from everyone, [and] just ruin everything by yourself, it's devastating. I should be the one creating. I should be the one just playing my game. I can't seem to find a way to do that."