Stefanos Tsitsipas is getting there, slowly. Maybe back to the player he once was when tennis fans thought he might challenge for majors. That time feels like many years ago, though.
Still, after a fairly brutal couple of years where he changed coaches and saw the losses pile up, he is still only 27 years old with likely many years left to play in good form. Even though he was bounced out of the first round at the Citi Open, he won his previous event in Gstaad. Perhaps that was the jump-start to his career that he needed, and he was hoping to extend that at the Canadian Open.
The run would start against American Martin Damm, a player scuffling a bit on the ATP Tour, but with a huge serve, one that could make him dangerous on hard courts. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, has a backhand that needs work, and one might wonder how he would defend Damm's serve.
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Martin Damm at the 2026 Canadian Open
Positively, for Tsitsipas's fans, he was able to prove that he is making inroads on the repair of his backhand. He battled with Damm through most of the first set, with each holding serve. Then, with Damm serving at 4-all, Tsitsipas got the break and then served out the set.
At the beginning of the second set, Damm appeared to take control, as he got a break of the Greek player in the second game. Tsitsipas broke right back, however, and after a hold, got another break. After trailing 0-2, he reeled off five straight games. The domination in the second set after coming from behind was extraordinary.
And yet, there was another hiccup. Tsitsipas couldn't serve out the match and was broken at 5-2. After a hold, Damm was asking a question that required Tsitsipas to answer at 5-4 and on serve. This time, he was able to close out the match and take the set 6-4.
Damm definitely won't be the biggest challenge that Tsitsipas faces in Montreal at the Canadian Open. Tougher tests lie ahead, but any victory for the former staple in the ATP top 10 is a step in the right direction. He will be inside the top 50 again by the time the tournament is over, a long way from where he once was, but might be again.
Stefanos Tsitsipas will next play rising star Joao Fonseca in the second round. Should the Greek player get past that match, he shouldn't be counted out of making a deep run at the Masters 1000.
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