French media described Tsitsipas' play as a joke, while Ruud said he might withdraw from the Australian Open anytime as his wife is close to giving birth.

Just today, French tennis media delivered their sharpest criticism of Tsitsipas in recent years, directly pointing out that the former world No. 3 has completely lost his competitiveness.

In the report, they said, "For Tsitsipas now, everything is a total disaster; his matches have lost all substance, and defeating him has become so simple that anyone can easily manage it! But the problem is, we are talking about a player who was in the Australian Open final just three years ago. Today, this is simply a joke."

As a former world No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam finalist, Tsitsipas has currently dropped to 31st in the world rankings, far from his glory days as the 2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open runner-up.

Tsitsipas’ sharp decline in form is not accidental; it stems from a series of problems erupting simultaneously, including conflicts with his coaching team, troubles in his personal relationships, and injuries that have severely impacted his career, all contributing to his downturn.

Tennis legend Carlos Moyá believes the core issue with Tsitsipas lies in the mismatch between his professional attitude and talent. He said, "What stands out most is his former coach—Ivanisevic, a well-known coach who successfully helped Djokovic through a slump, but his training methods require players to have exceptional physical endurance and mental toughness. He tried to save Tsitsipas using similar approaches, but the results seemed counterproductive."

Tennis analyst Marie Carrillo also wrote on social media: "Top players cannot rely on talent alone. Ivan pointed out a harsh but true fact: Tsitsipas’ level of professional commitment seems not to match his ambitions."

Professional tennis players often need to balance family and career, and Norwegian player Ruud is facing such a challenge. He and his fiancée Maria are expecting their first child, due in early 2026.

Ruud is currently competing at the Auckland ASB Classic, seeded second in the tournament, and will face Fabian Marozsan in the second round. However, he admitted that he might have to pause his participation at any moment to be with his wife for the birth.

“Honestly, the baby could arrive at any time. So I hope to stay until the tournament ends, but you never know. I might get a call and have to catch a flight home,” Ruud said before the match. He added, “It will be a very interesting year, but if we set aside these (family) matters and focus only on tennis, I think it could be an exciting season.”

Despite family matters potentially affecting his schedule, Ruud remains optimistic about the 2026 season: “Last season wasn’t exactly what I wanted in some ways, but I did play some good tennis. I won two titles last year and hope to play more matches this season like those two weeks.”

Regarding Ruud’s situation, most netizens expressed understanding and support. Unlike the criticism Tsitsipas received, Ruud’s efforts to balance family and career have been met with greater tolerance.

Many online commenters believe athletes are ordinary people too, and it is completely understandable to prioritize family during major life moments. Ruud’s decision reflects his sense of responsibility as a husband and soon-to-be father.

On social media, some said: “An athlete’s career is limited, but family lasts a lifetime. Support Ruud for putting family first.” Others commented: “This genuine life decision makes athletes more relatable and charming, unlike machines who just play the game.”

However, a few expressed concern that family issues might affect Ruud’s professional career: “Hopefully he finds a balance and doesn’t give up tennis entirely because of family; he still has great potential.”

Under the spotlight of professional tennis, these two players face their own life crossroads. Their choices will determine the heights of their careers and reveal the real-life challenges behind the glamor of top athletes.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)