Stefanos Tsitsipas’ struggles in 2022 have continued with the world No.5 bundled out of the US Open in the first round by Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan.
The fourth seed was absolutely blitzed by the 94th-ranked South American in the first two sets and managed to briefly rally before succumbing 6-0 6-1 3-6 7-5 in two hours and 43 minutes.
It is the first time the Greek star has been eliminated at the first stage of a major since Wimbledon 2021, and follows on from a third-round exit in the recent major at the All-England Club and fourth round at the French Open.
Tsitsipas went into the match as hot favourite against his little-known 26-year-old opponent, having reached the final of last week’s Cincinnati Masters and defeating world No.1 Daniil Medvedev in the process.
However, he only managed to win seven points in the first set against Galan as the Colombian raced away to a 6-0 first set triumph.
Despite the thought Tsitsipas would strike back in the second set, the horror show continued for Greece’s No.1, going down 5-0 before Galan clinched it 6-1 to take a two sets lead.
Tsitsipas fought back briefly in the third set, claiming it 6-3, as Galan struggled to limit his unforced errors, but the Colombian got the job done in the fourth set despite Tsitsipas saving eight match points.
Galan will meet Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the second round, with the top half of the US Open draw opening up as Tsitsipas packs his bags.
There was a similar shock in the women’s singles with two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep being knocked out in the first round by unseeded Ukrainian Daria Snigur 6-2 0-6 6-4.
It was the fourth time the world No.7 had been eliminated at the first stage at Flushing Meadows after heading into the tournament having won 19 of her last 22 matches.
Snigur, ranked 125th, was in her debut at a major and benefited from an extraordinary 30 unforced errors from Halep.
The Ukrainian 20-year-old was the Wimbledon junior champion in 2019 but had struggled to make her mark on the professional circuit since.