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| - He was tipped as the Wimbledon champion-in-waiting should Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer falter, but Stefanos Tsitsipas exited Wimbledon on Monday, dejected but glad to be a step closer to escaping the tennis bubble world. Third seed Tsitsipas was stunned by America's Frances Tiafoe, ranked 57, in the first round 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. It was a loss which came just two weeks after he lost a five-set French Open final thriller to Djokovic. "The bubble makes it really tiring week by week," said 22-year-old Tsitsipas. "It's certainly very difficult when you know mentally you're going to go from one bubble, being in that bubble two and a half weeks, maybe even more than that, like close to a month, to be honest. "Just like two weeks later you still have to undergo the same procedure and the same thing again. It's just not easy. It's a challenge on its own already." Tsitsipas has now lost three times in the first round at Wimbledon where his best run was a last-16 place in 2018. His lack of exposure on grass -- he was playing just his 16th match on the surface -- was perfect fodder for Tiafoe who had won a second-tier Challenger grass court title just two weeks ago "My opponent played much better, significantly better, than me," admitted Tsitsipas. "There wasn't the drive that I was hoping for. "There wasn't that same fighting spirit that I usually put out on the court. "But of course, yeah, I would like to see a different me next time. There's always a next time. That's a good thing." Tsitsipas's bubble life he detests so much is not quite over as he plays in the doubles with his brother Petros. dj/pi
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