Rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas has partly credited his historic run at The Wimbledon Championships to eight-time champion Roger Federer following his exit on Manic Monday.
The 19-year-old is the first Greek male player in history to reach the fourth round of a grand slam in the Open Era. His run was ended by ninth seed John Isner, who prevailed 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4). Isner produced 22 aces and 54 winners to reach the last eight of a major for the first time since the 2011 US Open.
“It was a wonderful week.” Tsitsipas reflected during his press conference.
“I had goals at the beginning of the year to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam. I believed it (my goal), but I never thought it was going to come this fast and that quick, and it just came with all the hard work I did this year.”
Wimbledon is just the sixth grass-court tournament Tsitsipas has played in on the professional tour. Speaking about his development on the surface, he believes it has been aided by world No.2 Federer. The world No.35 reveals that he watches YouTube videos of the Swiss player in action to study how he plays on the grass.
“When you watch Federer, it’s like the best thing on television. It is. Federer has such a good game for grass.” He said.
There is one particular Federer match the stays on the mind of Greek player. Back in 2001 the Swiss player took on Pete Sampras in what was the only meeting on the tour. Stunning the top seed at the age of 19 to reach his first-ever Quarter-final at SW19.
“I used to watch YouTube videos of him playing on grass. The match that he played against Pete Sampras when he was actually younger and pretty close to my age.” Tsitsipas recounts.
“I was inspired. I wanted to play exactly like him and do the same results.”
Even now Tsitsipas analyses that Federer-Sampras match. Admitting that he has watched highlights of it ‘two or three times this week.’ Coinciding with his best-ever run in a grand slam event. A lot has changed since that 2001 clash, when Tsitsipas would have been only two-years-old. Speaking about Federer’s development, the Greek says that has maintained a good position in men’s tennis by ‘adding more variety’ to his game.
“He’s adding more variety, he’s staying back, he makes the opponent confused. I never played Roger, but from what I see on television, he’s actually mixing up the game and he knows when — he has so much experience and knows when he should come to the net, when he should stay back..” He concluded.
Tsitsipas will return to action later this month at the German Open in Hamburg.
