By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) – Stefanos Tsitsipas mentioned he regretted not taking part in his normal instinctive recreation earlier in his 6-Three 6-2 5-7 4-6 6-1 semi-final defeat in opposition to world primary Novak Djokovic on the French Open on Friday.

The Greek, seeded fifth at Roland Garros, got here again from the brink to drive the Serbian right into a decider, the place a current damage resurfaced and killed the drained Tsitsipas’s possibilities.

The world quantity six, nonetheless, believes he made a “enormous mistake” by not being extra instinctive early within the match on court docket Philippe Chatrier.

“I want I might have figured sure issues earlier which, I do not know, I felt prefer it was a complete demolition, the truth that I attempted these issues in observe and tried to implement them within the match,” Tsitsipas, who saved a match level within the third set, advised a information convention.

“It was one thing new. I want I would not have tried these items and tried to remain to my odd and primary manner of feeling the ball and in addition attempting to dictate the sport.

“I believe that was an enormous mistake right now, that I attempted this for 2 units in a row, then got here again to my outdated manner of doing issues.”

That extra instinctive strategy labored significantly better for the 22-year-old, who began to transform his break factors, turning the tide in spectacular vogue and forcing Djokovic to man the barricades till the Greek ran out of steam.

“He gave me a extremely tough time on the court docket. Sadly in the direction of the tip of the match an damage that I had throughout my match in Rome got here again,” mentioned Tsitsipas.

“As you noticed, it was a superb comeback, and I believe I performed nice tennis after that, besides the fifth set, which I consider my physique was not prepared for,” he added.

“Bodily I wasn’t actually there.”

Tsitsipas hoped to change into the primary Greek to achieve a Grand Slam last and whereas the defeat would have stung it was a marked enchancment from his final semi-final look in a serious when he was thrashed 6-2 6-Four 6-Zero by Rafael Nadal on the Australian Open final yr.

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“Effectively, if I believe again on the Australian Open I used to be nonetheless a child, and now I am turning extra into an grownup,” mentioned Tsitsipas.

“My considering has modified. I’ve matured. I have been via a variety of issues. I’ve grown from the individuals round me, my relationships, individuals typically…

“I’ve, after all, extra expertise in my pocket than earlier than. I’ve performed matches. I’ve skilled various things. I do know when one thing is nice or not, and I can, I believe, dictate that earlier.”

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Modifying by Toby Davis)