Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame a wobble against Italy’s Jannik Sinner before prevailing in a five-set epic to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
Tsitsipas, who is the highest seed remaining in the men’s draw, rallied to a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, win on the Rod Laver Arena. Throughout the marathon four-hour clash, the Greek produced a total of 48 winners and crucially saved 22 out of the 26 break points he faced. It is the fourth time in his career he has reached the last eight at Melbourne Park.
“I felt like I was out there for a century. That was a superb night, a ripper as they say here,” Tsitsipas said during his on-court interview.
“I had an incredible opponent playing incredible tennis in the third and fourth set. I stayed calm like Rod Laver did in his day (Laver was in the crowd).’”
The rollercoaster encounter saw both men have opportunities in the match. Initially, Tsitsipas looked to be on the verge of a straightforward win before world No.16 staged a fight back midway through the third frame. Then in the decider, it was a single break that decided the outcome. Leading 3-2, Tsitsipas broke his opponent after he hit a forehand error. Closing in on victory, he closed out the match with a forehand cross-court winner.
“I released my arm, and released my serve and it helped me to generate my power, a minor adjustment. I figured it out at one point.” Tsitsipas commented on how he managed to fight back.
As for Sinner, the Italian is once again left frustrated as his struggle against the world’s best players continues. Despite his credentials, he has never beaten a top-five player at a Grand Slam event and overall has won just once in 17 meetings against them.
Awaiting Tsitsipas in the next round will be Czech underdog Jiri Lehecka who stunned Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(3), in his fourth round match.
“I know that he will remember how we played last year in Rotterdam. In one set I was the better player on the court. Then he overtook the match,” Lehecka said about the last time he played Tsitsipas.
“But I think that he will remember, and he will know what my strengths are. He will feel that I can get him under pressure. At the same time, I know that he’s a great player. If you are in the top 10, then you must show some extraordinary tennis.”
Tsitsipas is bidding to become the youngest Australian Open champion since Novak Djokovic in 2011.
