Zdeněk Kolář beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round of Roland Garros and lost to last year’s finalists 3:6, 6:7, 7:6 and 6:7. In the fourth set, the Czech qualifier, who was strongly supported by the Paris crowd, did not use four set points in a tie-break against the world’s fourth player.
Kolar should have been an easy “bite” for Tsitsipas on the Suzanne Lenglen field. But in his first match against the world number 5, he performed brilliantly and won the hearts of the crowd. He plays boldly, follows the exchange and is able to push the favorites and catch the “shorts”.
The first set was decided by Kolář’s serve defeat in the fourth game. But in the second set which lasted just over an hour, the Czechs took a one-step lead. He didn’t hold on to a 3:1 lead and had two set points at 6:5, but Tsitsipas always served well.
In the tie-break, Kolář equalized at 3:3 after two shorts, on his third set point, the Greek served hard again and Kolář eventually lost in the tie-break with a score of 8:10.
From the second set, the crowd chanted “Kář!” and the Czech player returned the favor. He also made good lobs, one of which early in the third set tie-break, which he won 7:3.
In the fourth set, Tsitsipas signaled to the fans to appreciate his shot as well, occasionally chanting his name, but “Kolář” continued to win and the 134th-ranked drew level with the world number four.
The set reached a tie-break again, where Kolar led 6:2, but lost four set points. On the first match point, the oak ball only hit the car, and on the second match point, Kolář had already sent a forehand into the net under pressure.
The game ended after four hours and four minutes. “I’m frustrated. He’s everywhere and it’s not easy, no,” Tsitsipas praised Grand Slam debutant Kolář in an on-court interview.
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