Mallorca Championships: Stefanos Tsitsipas troubles, Farewell Feliciano Lopez, Wimbledon hints – Three takeaways

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez all made an look as Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez bowed out of what was billed as his remaining ever aggressive singles event on the Mallorca Championships. Paul Hassall went alongside to absorb the pre-Wimbledon grass occasion in Santa Ponsa, Calvia that proved to be a contest of emotion and shocks.

Three takeaways from Mallorca

Tsitsipas has discovered a (romantic) prompt the courtroom – however does he now want one on it?

Wimbledon

Alcaraz ‘some of the gifted gamers I’ve ever seen’ – Tsitsipas

YESTERDAY AT 21:52

Stefanos Tsitsipas at present sits No.5 within the ATP race, reached this yr’s Australian Open remaining and made the final eight at Roland Garros – so why is there a persistent, nagging feeling that the World No.5 is lacking one thing essential in his try and take the subsequent large step ahead in his profession?

A shock early exit has grow to be a worryingly frequent incidence in current weeks for the Greek and his defeat in Mallorca means he heads to Wimbledon with loads of query marks over whether or not he’s a practical contender for the title regardless of being fifth seed in SW19.

If we rewind barely, Tsitsipas adopted up his spectacular run Down Beneath with an underwhelming sunshine swing however regrouped courtesy of some strong outcomes on clay – a floor many regard as his finest shot at common silverware – reaching the quarter finals in Monte Carlo, Madrid and the French Open in addition to the ultimate in Barcelona and the final 4 in Rome.

Sounds fairly strong doesn’t it, so what’s the difficulty?

Effectively, a better take a look at these tournaments maybe spotlight why Tsitsipas seems to be transferring away from vying for the World No.1 spot, like he did late final yr and again in January, to trying like his place within the Prime 5 is susceptible.

In Monte Carlo the draw had opened up for the 24-year-old, two-time defending champion to make it three titles in a row within the Principality. There was no Carlos Alcaraz or Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic suffered a shock third spherical exit, however regardless of having by far the higher clay-court pedigree, Tsitsipas was shocked by Taylor Fritz earlier than being outclassed by Alcaraz within the Barcelona remaining per week later.

Tsitsipas then didn’t benefit from one other type attract Madrid the place he regarded odds-on to achieve one other remaining, however he was shocked within the final eight by fortunate loser Jan-Lennard Struff.

There was one other ‘what if’ second in Rome with the draw but once more opening up properly as Djokovic and Alcaraz fell early, just for self-proclaimed hater of clay, Daniil Medvedev to upset the Greek within the semis.

One other very humbling loss to Alcaraz put paid to Tsitsipas’ French Open hopes and a better take a look at his match-ups with the younger world No.1 don’t make for good studying given the Spaniard is 4 years his junior and has leapfrogged him within the pecking order of Grand Slam contenders.

A serious title appeared inevitable at one stage however proper now there are evident doubts particularly given the best way the higher echelons of the tour are in a position to brutally expose his one-handed backhand and his lower than environment friendly return recreation.

A swap to the grass has thus far didn’t encourage an upturn in fortunes with defeats to Richard Gasquet (Stuttgart) and Nicolas Jarry (Halle) adopted by extra disappointment within the Balearics to depart him 1-3 on the floor from three warm-up tournaments.

It’s price nothing that Tsitsipas’ final title was means again on the 2022 Mallorca Championships, however his defence fell on the first hurdle as he was deservedly overwhelmed by German Yannick Hanffman in spherical two.

Parting methods with Mark Philippoussis, a coach broadly credited for enjoying an enormous function in his run to this yr’s Australian Open remaining and having a chilled affect on him inside his close-knit household arrange, will not be understanding fairly how Tsitsipas would have hoped.

Outcomes because the break up have been effectively in need of his personal expectations and it’s hardly the run-up to Wimbledon he was anticipating regardless of showing very proud of life away from event travails as a part of ‘Tsitsidosa’ – tennis’ newest energy couple.

Tsitsipas has waxed lyrical about his new-found relationship with former World No2 Paula Badosa, practising usually with the Spaniard and claiming she is his favorite participant who motivates him to be higher and fall extra in love with tennis.

The spark is clearly there for the Greek however now he wants to start out channelling it into his performances on courtroom.

A very good draw and powerful run at Wimbledon would go some approach to re-establishing him as a participant who can proceed to enhance and actually problem for the main prizes, however with a profession report of 17-14 on grass, it’s unlikely he’ll finish his pursuit of a primary Grand Slam in London this yr.

Feli’s fond farewell

Tsitsipas’s untimely exit in Mallorca allowed one among Spain’s most long-standing stars to hog the highlight a bit of longer, with Feliciano Lopez ultimately bringing down the curtain on a 26-year professional profession.

The 41-year-old was bidding to finish on a excessive on house territory in what organisers billed as his final ever event, and there was a celebratory vibe within the air because the Opening Night time gala paid tribute to the five-time Davis Cup winner.

That was topped when Rafael Nadal turned out with Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez – his doubles accomplice throughout their 2016 French Open triumph – to cheer him on alongside his household within the VIP bins for his first spherical match towards Australia’s Max Purcell.

The veteran Spaniard didn’t disappoint his A-list backing as he extended his farewell with a 6-3 7-5 victory on Tuesday night, clocking up 11 aces which took him as much as fourth spot on the all-time profession listing in that class.

Twenty 4 hours later – and following the shock exit of final yr’s winner Tsitsipas – there was a component of déjà vu across the grounds as as soon as once more preparations had been set for Lopez to say farewell.

There was even a prolonged dialogue relating to the logistics of the post-match tribute/celebration for Lopez amongst organisers within the media zone.

The person nicknamed ‘Feli’ has loved a few of the finest outcomes of his profession on grass with two Queens titles forming a part of a haul of 4 singles trophies on the floor. Even within the twilight of his tennis years his serve and volleying could be a potent weapon and as soon as once more, he insisted on placing the tributes on the backburner as he outgunned Australia’s Jordan Thompson 7-6 1-6 6-3 to grow to be the oldest man since Jimmy Connors (42) in Halle again in 1995 to achieve an ATP quarter remaining.

With the entire pre-tournament favourites now out, even Lopez started to think about that he had a title shout, nevertheless it was to be third time unfortunate for the Spaniard as he was comfortably overwhelmed by German Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-4.

This time the Mallorca organisers had the greenlight for a effectively versed outpouring of reward for the previous World No.12, with a video message from the now absent Rafa Nadal additionally taking part in out on the large display screen as he was joined by his household on Centre Court docket.

Certainly, there can be no fairytale finale with the sight of his shut pal, the 22-Grand Slam champion, returning to the entrance row once more on Saturday night celebrating a trophy triumph, however after seven titles, over 500 match wins, 5 Davis Cup victories and a French Open doubles title, it’s not been a foul experience for the participant turned Madrid Masters event director.

Comfortable retirement Feli!

It’s a grass warm-up occasion so what does it imply for Wimbledon?

Effectively, Mallorca 2023 doesn’t inform us a lot by way of a practical darkish horse for the title.

Again in 2019 the AELTC introduced an intention to put money into a number of new grass tournaments throughout each the ATP and WTA, with Mallorca securing funding to move up a males’s occasion fronted by Toni Nadal. Following a delay because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ATP 250 event launched in 2021 and this was its third yr with eye-catching names akin to Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas amongst the early winners.

That wasn’t the case this yr with finalists Adrian Mannarino and Chris Eubanks unlikely to be seen by many as gamers who might really go on and push the likes of Novak Djokovic for the Wimbledon crown. Certainly, Eubanks has by no means beforehand been past qualifying in SW19 and Mannarino’s finest performances on the grass-court main are a trio of spherical 4 appearances.

It might have been a special story in Mallorca, however final yr’s SW19 finalist, Nick Kyrgios withdrew by way of harm and Felix Auger-Aliassime opted towards accepting a wild card. There have been then early exits for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Tsitsipas and Ben Shelton as Mannarino was simply one of many seeds within the draw that reached the final eight.

It opened the door for some unlikely names to benefit from the limelight and Mannarino took on Eubanks hoping to say his third ATP Tour title and his second on grass with the American bidding for a maiden success on the floor.