The 2023 US Open men's singles draw saw Stefanos Tsitsipas exit before the third round. On August 31, the Greek star suffered a hard-fought loss to Dominic Stricker of Switzerland, falling 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 3-6. For Stricker, this was a breakthrough moment, securing his first victory over an opponent ranked in the ATP top 10. The contest was incredibly tight, with the first four sets going down to the wire. Even when Tsitsipas held a 5-4 lead in the fourth-set tie-breaker, Stricker managed to fight back and keep the match alive.
Stefanos Tsitsipas did not get to the third round of the US Open men’s singles in 2023. On Wednesday, August 31, the Greek star was defeated 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 3-6 by Swiss player Dominic Stricker, who earned his first win over an ATP top-10 player. The first four sets came down to the wire before Stricker delivered in the decisive set. Tsitsipas had a chance to win the match at 5-4 in the fourth set tie-breaker, but his young opponent stormed back.
Making his US Open debut at just 21 years old, Stricker displayed impressive mental toughness and skill over a grueling 4-hour and 10-minute battle. This victory represents his second time winning a five-set match at a major tournament. Facing oppressive humidity, the lefty showed great composure to win the fourth set after trailing 3-5, surviving three critical points where defeat seemed imminent.
Tsitsipas's performance was marred by struggles with his second serve, where he won only 41% of points and gave away six double faults. Despite a strong showing with 22 aces, he couldn't overcome Stricker's offensive pressure; the Swiss player hit 79 winners, eight more than Tsitsipas. Stricker is now set to face France's Benjamin Bonzi in the third round on September 1.
Benjamin Bonzi, who entered the tournament as a wild card, created his own stir by knocking out American favorite Christopher Eubanks in a 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(7) victory. Bonzi maintained his cool under pressure, utilizing 19 aces to outpace Eubanks' 15 and successfully converting his third match point in the final tie-break to avoid a fifth set.
Bonzi and Stricker will face each other for the first time this Friday, with the stakes being a spot in the fourth round—a milestone neither has achieved at a Slam before. To date, Bonzi's strongest major showing was at the Australian Open in January, where he reached the third round.
This loss adds to a frustrating trend for Tsitsipas, who was also knocked out in the opening round last year by Daniel Elahi Galan; he has now failed to reach the second week of the US Open in six consecutive attempts. Coming off a mediocre run in Toronto and Cincinnati (1-2), the Greek player showed flashes of brilliance in his second meeting with Stricker, but costly errors on his backhand side ultimately proved fatal.
Reflecting on the match, Stricker shared his excitement: 'I started today feeling really strong and maintained that momentum from the first set. It was an intense battle, and I'm just incredibly happy right now. This is a massive win for me.' He added that the victory provides a huge confidence boost and is a testament to the hard work he and his team put in every day.