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A new hashtag that could appear on social networks on Friday night, has nothing to do with hot shots or bloopers. Call it # ShoeGate2019.
All this stems from an unusual moment in the quarterfinals of the Citi Open. Stefanos Tsitsipas was serving at 7-5, 2-0 40/40 against Benoit Paire when he had to return to his seat to change his sneakers. The left lash of the upper seed sometimes breaks on the last hole when it slides in a forehand.
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It was the third time this week that the Greek superstar had this problem, which was causing a delay, and Pair was not happy to wait because he was trying to get back into service in the second set.
"In a way, he was right, it happened many times in the past. I can not do anything about it. The only thing is probably [to] change my footwork, "said Tsitsipas. "I had a hard time with that, one of the few players who had trouble with that. I am not doing it on purpose. Some people think that I do it on purpose. It always happens in crucial moments like this, when I do my best to give everything on the field and try to recover each ball. That's when it happens.
"It's very irritating for me to keep playing with a shoe that's not tight." He can fall at any time during the rally. "
After resuming the game, Paire lost the next point. But instead of changing side of the field, the Frenchman returned to his chair, deciding that he had to change his own sneakers, throwing one that had been removed from him. This caused a lot of laughter and applause from the crowd. Pair probably had no need to make the change, but he wanted to make a point.
"It was funny," Tsitsipas said. "I did not know if I had to laugh or keep a serious face. It was hilarious. "
Instead of getting out, Paire lost the next game and the next three to see his race come to an end in Washington, DC But all is well that ends well, as there was no resentment among the contestants. After the end of the match, the two men kissed in front of the net, sharing a smile. Pair said with a smile to the reigning champion of the Next Generation ATP Finale: "It's good. It was not against you.
"We are good friends," said Tsitsipas. "We live in the same region, the south of France. We both practice there. He arrives at the academy [where I train] often enough. So I know him pretty well. When he plays, he is different from what he is out of the field. There was nothing there. He even told me that there was nothing between him and him with the lace thing. "
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