Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan has stunned fourth-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0 6-1 3-6 7-5 in an epic first-round showdown at the US Open, winning on the ninth matchpoint.
Playing in the main draw for the first time, Galan appeared right at home on tennis' biggest stage, claiming the first 11 games, as Tsitsipas struggled to find any of his usual finesse and won just five of his service points in the first set.
Tsitsipas had a physio tend to his right arm before the sixth game in the second set, when he finally got on the board, and again during the break before the third set, when he broke Galan in the second game.
Tsitsipas, who has never reached the fourth round at New York and had hoped to do better this year, after reaching the Cincinnati final, dropped only four of his first-serve points in the third set and looked as though he had the momentum, when he broke Galan again in the opening game of the fourth set.
But the Colombian never lost his composure, sending across 41 winners throughout the entire contest and refusing to give into his heavily favoured opponent.
"I just stayed calm," said Galan, who broke back in the eighth. "I lost the set, but I felt I was doing better and better."
Dripping with sweat and with the crowd inside Louis Armstrong Stadium egging them on, Galan nearly broke Tsitsipas for the match five times in the 10th game and finally got the job done in the 12th, gazing at the stands with disbelief.
"I can't explain how I feel right now," he said. "I went through the match well."
He next faces Australian Jordan Thompson in the second round.
Meanwhile, Australian Nick Kyrgios overcame his despair at seeing dear friend Thanasi Kokkinakis on the other side of the net, outclassing his compatriot 6-3 6-4 7-6(4).
The doubles partners won together at the Australian Open, but landed on opposite sides at the year's final Major, where an in-form Kyrgios kept his sublime year on track, never facing a break at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the battle of the 'Special Ks'.
"It was a nightmare, honestly, we never want to play each other," Kyrgios said.
"I can't wait to get out there and play doubles with him on the right side of the net."
Reuters
