Stefanos Tsitsipas explains what he found ‘odd’ about his latest match at the Almaty Open
Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the Almaty Open quarterfinals after defeating Mikhail Kukushkin. The match was notable as it marked the final career appearance for the 38-year-old Kukushkin.
Why it matters
The match highlights the emotional weight of professional sports retirements and the respect players show for departing veterans.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is into the quarterfinals of the Almaty Open after an "odd" victory over Mikhail Kukushkin.
The Greek star made the claim immediately after the match because it was his opponent's final appearance before retiring. Home favourite Kukushkin has decided to call time on his career at the Almaty Open , with his loss to Tsitsipas representing his final match.
Seventh seed Tsitsipas beat the 38-year-old 6-1, 6-2, having overcome Aleksandar Kovacevic in his opening match of the ATP 250 event in Kazakhstan. He now meets James Duckworth in the quarterfinals, ahead of which he has discussed what it was like to play in Kukushkin's farewell.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in