“Don’t give up” – Stefanos Tsitsipas wary of silent killer Matteo Arnaldi ahead of Roland Garros showdown

Stefanos Tsitsipas has yet to face Matteo Arnaldi on the ATP Tour, but he is well aware of the Italian’s quality. Seeded ninth over unseeded Arnaldi, Tsitsipas enters his fourth-round match at Roland Garros as the favorite. But will it be a simple competition? The great Greek doesn’t think so and he’s in no mood to take Arnaldi lightly.

Tsitsipas is seeking his first Grand Slam title and has so far lived up to expectations at Roland Garros. It was smooth sailing for the 25-year-old, with the exception of the second round match, where Daniel Altmier stretched it to four sets. Arnaldi, however, is likely to pose a greater threat to Tsitsipas than any of his previous opponents.

“What you want is to be careful in every circumstance and in every match you play. I kept an eye on him. I saw him play in Barcelona, ​​I saw him play in Rome, I saw him play here. He’s someone who goes out on the field and fights. He doesn’t give up, I noticed” said Tsitsipas before his highly anticipated match against Arnaldi.

Matteo Arnaldi was the highlight of the third round as he pulled off an upset over Madrid Open winner Andre Rublev. Rublev was one of the title contenders at Roland Garros this year, but he proved to be no match for Arnaldi’s power and precision. The Italian came away with a straight sets victory to set up his first ever meeting with Tsitsipas.

Matteo Arnaldi caught everyone’s attention on the ATP Tour

Matteo Arnaldi hasn’t been around for a long time, but he’s made all the right noises since his Slam debut. He raised many eyebrows when he managed to advance to the fourth round of the US Open last year, which also included a shocking result against Cameron Norrie.

The real test for Arnaldi in the fourth round match against Tsitsipas will be maintaining the physical and mental intensity against another top player within 48 hours. The Italian showed extraordinary composure and tenacity against Rublev, but he cannot afford to let his guard down against Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas is the best clay court player in the world, according to statistics-based ELO rankings. Although some would like to dispute the ELO rankings, it is commonly accepted that clay is Tsitsipas’ preferred surface, and he also has experience navigating the French Open. The big-serving Greek reached the 2021 French Open final before losing to Novak Djokovic in a grueling five-set match.

However, despite Tsitsipas’ credentials, no one would want to rule out the possibility of another surprise from Arnaldi in what promises to be a fascinating encounter.

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