Tsitsipas crashes as Arg, Spain stay unbeaten

The World No 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed to defeat in his first singles match since elbow surgery on Monday, losing an epic battle with feisty Argentinian Diego Schwartzman 6-7 (5/7) 6-3, 6-3 at the ATP Cup.

Tsitsipas, who had surgery in November and missed Saturday’s meeting with Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz before playing the doubles rubber, took advantage of Schwartzman’s misfiring serve to gain the early advantage at the Ken Rosewell Arena. He grabbed an early break in the second set but lost his way thereafter as Schwartzman clawed his way back and leveled the contest before fending off a late comeback attempt while up 4-2 in the decider to help Argentina stay unbeaten in Group D.