Stefanos Tsitsipas faces Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second singles match of the 2024 Laver Cup on Friday, keen to get the better of his US Open conqueror.
The Greek star exited the final Grand Slam of 2024 in the opening round — his first round-one exit at a Major in two years — but seeks to play a part in Team Europe's quest to end Team World's two-year winning streak at the event.
Match preview
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Tsitsipas had had it pretty rough through the summer months, clashing with and splitting with father and former coach Apostolos before suffering a first-round exit at the US Open.
The Greek star faces the man who inflicted a first tournament-opening Slam loss since the 2022 event in New York in Friday's match, keen to record a fifth-ever success in the three-day event.
Although Tsitsipas's overall win-loss record at the Laver Cup reads 4-3, two of his defeats have been in doubles, with a solitary defeat in singles coming in an exciting day-three tussle with Frances Tiafoe two years ago.
Having suffered losses in four of his last five tour-level matches on clay or hard courts, the world No. 12 hopes the exhibition event in Germany sparks a turnaround.
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On the other side of the court is a Laver Cup debutant who relishes his match-up with Tsitsipas only three weeks since a shock success over the two-time Grand Slam finalist.
The 28-year-old Australian may have had a career blighted by injury troubles, but 2024 has been something resembling a resurgent year on the ATP Tour as he avoided tournament-opening exits at all four Majors in a calendar year for the first time.
While a third-round run at the French Open was Kokkinakis' peak in 2024, the big-serving player hopes the serve holds up again in Friday's match-up with Tsitsipas in their third battle on tour.
With the second singles match-up taking place after the opening battle between Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo, the world No. 78 seeks a repeat performance to continue his higher ranked opponent's summer woes.
Head To Head
US Open (2024) - First round:Kokkinakis 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 7-5
Australian Open (2021) - Second round:Tsitsipas 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1 6-7(5) 6-4
Tsitsipas and Kokkinakis have only ever met at Grand Slams, with the Greek player beating the Australian on home soil Down Under three years ago before falling to the man two years his senior at this year's event at Flushing Meadows.
Neither victor has notched straight-set wins as their match-up at the 2021 Australian Open went the distance, while this year's tussle in the United States was settled in four close sets.
We say: Tsitsipas to win in three sets
Having had a bumpy summer since losing to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics, Tsitsipas should notch a fourth Laver Cup success at Kokkinakis's expense to somewhat avenge that round-one US Open elimination.
