Stefanos Tsitsipas: ‘Let us fill the stadium with four times…’

Despite an initial victory in doubles that was discounted to 1-2, Ecuador ended up falling 3-1 against Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Greece in Athens for the World Group I Play-off of the Davis Cup by Rakuten. In this way, those led by Raúl Viver will have to play World Group II in September, while the Greeks will do so in World Group I, in a round that, if they win, will place them in the 2024 Qualifiers. After a Saturday with two losses in singles for the visit, Sunday had started well for Ecuador, when Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo defeated the Greeks Petros Tsitsipas and Alexandros Skorilas 7-6(4) 6-4 to discount in the score of the series for a 1-2. However, the next obstacle was not easy for the visit: the Australian Open runner-up and world number 3, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who on Saturday had got rid of Álvaro Guillén 7-5, 6-2. On this occasion, the victim was Andrés Andrade, who fell 7-6(1) 6-1 not without putting up a good fight in the opening set. Thus, the Greeks sealed a definitive 3-1 that sends Ecuador to World Group II in September. Monaco can beat the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic will have to play again in the América III regional after losing to Monaco as a visitor for the World Group II Play-offs of the Davis Cup by Rakuten. The Central Americans will play this stage later this year, a group from which they had been promoted in 2002, never to return… until now. After an adverse start on Saturday, with two losses in the singles, the Dominican Republic was forced to win the three points at stake on Sunday, but in the doubles the Monegasques were too strong and sentenced the visit to relegation. Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys defeated Roberto Cid and Nick Hardt 7-6(1) 6-3 to make it 3-0 unattainable. On Saturday, Valentin Vacherot had given the first point to the locals with a tight 6-3 5-7 6-4 against Cid in two and a half hours of play.

Tsitsipas will next compete at the Rotterdam Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas hailed the “passion and energy” of the record-breaking audience during Greece’s Davis Cup tie against Ecuador. “We are deeply humbled by the unwavering support of the record-breaking 12,400 Greeks who attended the Davis Cup tie against Ecuador. To have played in front of such a large and enthusiastic crowd, who came together to write history, is a truly unforgettable experience,” he wrote. “Let us fill the stadium with four times the number of proud Greeks, and bring in even more fans to experience the rush and thrill of a Davis Cup tie. Let us show the world the passion and spirit of Greek tennis.”