For the second time in the last three years, Stefanos Tsitsipas has experienced a first-round elimination at the US Open. The 3-1 sets loss to Thanasis Kokkinakis may be the straw that broke the camel’s back for the Greek player.

In his post-match remarks in front of reporters, Tsitsipas was self-critical, acknowledging that he is at a crisis point in his career.

Specifically he said: “I look nothing like the player I was before. I remember myself when I was younger playing with adrenaline, I felt like my life depended on the game. And I think that’s faded, let’s just say my level of consistency wasn’t as high.

I remember my concentration was at its highest point, at its peak at the time and that’s something I feel it has been lost a little bit. I know it sounds weird, but I feel like I need to find the hunger again that I had back then and I’m not a person who feels good or settles for normal things.

But I want to bring it back, because I felt great joy with tennis back then. I really don’t know why I’ve had this slump in the last couple of months. I would even say that I feel like this a year or two years. I guess I’ve been able to kind of hide it for the past.”