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The innovative format for players 21 and under,
now in its second year, features shorter sets in which the first
player to four games is the winner, with a tiebreaker at 3-3.
Tsitsipas credited his father's advice for staying focused in
the fast-paced format.
"I was just more prepared, more ready for what's going to
happen," said the 20-year-old Greek. "Every point counts. So, I
was more into the match. I was more focused, more in the moment.
... I believe if you start playing more and more with these
rules, then it's just a matter of time to get used to it."
Russia's Andrey Rublev, a finalist at the inaugural event in
2017 and the only player in this year's field to have played in
Milan last year, defeated American Taylor Fritz in a five-set
thriller -- 4-2, 1-4, 3-4(4), 4-3(2), 4-2. The 21-year-old
Russian earned 16 break points in the match, including six in
the final set.
American Frances Tiafoe was up two quick sets against Poland's
Hubert Hurkacz before finding himself in a tight four-setter.
The 20-year-old saved six of the seven break points en route to
a 4-1, 4-2, 2-4, 4-3(10) win.
Nineteen-year-old Alex de Minaur of Australia made a strong
opening statement in the last match of Tuesday's opening-day
play. It took the Aussie just 55 minutes to dispatch Italian
wild card Liam Caruana in straight sets, 4-1, 4-1, 4-2.
De Minaur will face Rublev on Wednesday while Tsitsipas will
take on Tiafoe. Also in group play Wednesday, Caruana will face
Fritz, and Hurkacz will play Munar.
--Field Level Media
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