‘It sucks’ admits Stefanos Tsitsipas after ‘ass-kicking’ from Borna Coric in Cincinnati final

Stefanos Tsitsipas is clearly disappointed to have lost the Cincinnati Masters final to Borna Coric but was effusive in his praise for the surprise Masters champion. 

The Greek world number five was appearing in his sixth Masters 1000 final and third of 2022, losing to his Croatian opponent 7-6 (7-0), 6-2.

Tsitsipas had suffered the same fate as five other men at the Ohio event, as only world number three Rafael Nadal managed to claim a set off Coric all week.

“Borna, Congratulations man. You’ve been kicking my ass the last couple of times so, very good for you,” Tsitsipas said to Coric in his runner-up trophy acceptance speech. “Keep working hard, that’s what you do best.

“You’ve proved yourself over and over again.

“It kind of sucks,” Tsitsipas continued on the feeling of falling at the final hurdle. “I don’t even know any more how many times I’ve lost finals in a Masters 1000 on hard courts. I hope I can come back here and win it one day.”

Perhaps Tsitsipas was mistaken, as Cincinnati was only his second ever appearance in the final of a hard court Masters.

He is now 2-6 in Masters 1000 finals and 0-2 at hard court Masters events, his first final coming at the 2018 Canadian Open.

Despite the loss to Coric, Tsitsipas’ Cincinnati campaign sees him up to 4,620 ranking points claimed over the season, meaning he overtakes Carlos Alcaraz to be second in the qualifying race for the ATP Finals, only behind Nadal.

He also moves back into the world’s top five, behind Alcaraz and just ahead of Novak Djokovic.

🎾 Free >> Join our legendary newsletter

🎾 Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB

🎾 Social >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube

🎾 Read >> World’s best tennis magazine

🎾 Watch >> How to enjoy ATP/WTA/Slam tennis on TV

🎾 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner