New kids on the block continue to threaten status quo at Roland Garros
Danish teen Rune sends Tsitsipas packing in Paris as he joins fellow 19-year-old Alcaraz in last eight
THE so-called “next generation” of men’s tennis is in danger of being usurped by an even newer breed at this year’s French Open after Stefanos Tsitsipas was sent packing by Danish teenager Holger Rune.
Greek No.4 seed Tsitsipas, runner-up 12 months ago, is one of a handful of players still waiting to step in when the powers or physical health of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and, notionally, Roger Federer, finally begin to wane.
But the 23-year-old was outplayed by Rune, competing at Roland Garros for the first time, in a shock 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat.
Rune joins fellow 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, the first time two teenage men have reached that stage of a grand slam since the 1994 French Open.
Spain’s Alcaraz could land another blow for the even younger guns today when he takes on 25-year-old No.3 seed Alexander Zverev, another of the next cabs off the rank but who, like Tsitsipas, is still hunting a maiden grand slam title.
Rune, who had not won a match at a major before arriving in Paris, had to save three break points in a nerve-wracking final game before getting over the line when Tsitsipas went fractionally long.
He said: “I was very nervous but at the same time I knew that if I go away from my tactics I will lose for sure.
“I tried to play my plan and it worked out so well at the end. It’s just so great to still be here.
“It was part of the tactic to be as aggressive as possible. Tsitsipas attacks every ball. I had to be aggressive, play fast, and I really like playing the drop shots. It worked out and I’m really happy.”
Rune will face Norwegian No.8 seed Casper Ruud tomorrow for a place in the semi-finals.
Tsitsipas said: “These kids are going to want to beat me badly because obviously they are chasing.
“I’m chasing too, but I’m at a different kind of position than they are. I’m hungry to beat them too. Now that they have beaten me I want payback.”
Meanwhile, John McEnroe has warned the French Open fans that booing Novak Djokovic will only spur him on when he plays crowd favourite Rafael Nadal tonight.
World No.1 and defending champion Djokovic was jeered when he walked on to court before his fourth-round match
against Diego Schwartzman.
His name was also booed when mentioned during 13-time champion Nadal’s on-court interview following his five-set victory over Felix Augur-Aliassime, which set up the box-office quarter-final and a 59th meeting of the heavyweights of the sport.
McEnroe, who was no stranger to getting on the wrong side of the crowd during his playing days, believes Djokovic is the best ever at feeding off the negative energy towards him.
“He does it better than anyone I’ve ever seen,” said Eurosport pundit McEnroe.
“I didn’t do it as well. I felt like it affected me more than it helped me. I think there were times where it fuelled me, but he has done it consistently. He’s a remarkable player and person.”
McEnroe’s brattish behaviour on his way to seven grand slam titles in the 1980s usually earned him the ire of the crowd but he is at a loss to explain why Djokovic, who has never received the same levels of adoration heaped upon Nadal and Roger Federer, is being heckled so much this year.
“He’s been wanting to be respected at that same level, and that sort of fuels him but I think it’s unfair, personally,” added the American. “It’s just something that I can’t explain. I don’t know what it is, honestly.
“He deserves to be – and he is – respected. It’s just that I’m sure it’s frustrating. I think at the end of the day they will like him more after he stopped playing which sort of ended up being the case with myself, I guess.
“But at the time, it’s frustrating. Some of it can be at times your own fault, but I think quite a bit of it isn’t. It’s just that these other guys are so amazing.
“The way Rafa and Roger handle themselves, it’s hard to get to that level. Plus they were succeeding before him, so he’s been catching up the whole time.
“But he actually shows a lot of emotion, he’s fired up. People should love that and the French, they love that. I can’t explain it.”
Djokovic landed the first blow in the hotly-anticipated meeting on Monday after Roland Garros chiefs predictably chose it as the night match, whereas Nadal wanted to play in the day.