Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas - The "little bird" passed the final exam
Stefanos Tsitsipas is in the semifinals of the Australian Open after an epic five-set win over Rafael Nadal - even though the Greek was already behind the 20-time Grand Slam winner almost hopelessly.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 17, 2021, 03:09 pm
It was 3: 6 and 2: 6 this Wednesday evening Australian time from the point of view of Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open quarter-finals against Rafael Nadal. Not even 80 minutes had been played at this point, everything was reminiscent of the Melbourne semi-finals two years ago, which Nadal clearly won 6: 2, 6: 4 and 6: 0.
But unlike in 2019, Tsitsipas did not give up this time. In the third set, especially on his return, he still had no access to the match, but this should change rapidly after Nadal made a few mistakes in the tie-break of the third round in acts four and five. Thanks to great basic strokes, the Greek sniffed again and again on the break, which he should then succeed in late in the sets.
Tsitsipas fends off Nadal's final attack
Thanks to his irrepressible fighting spirit in the late phase of the fifth round, the world number six had long since passed the first part of his final school-leaving examination. Part two should follow the match when serving. In the usual manner, Nadal unpacked his fighter heart again, after defending two match points, the Spaniard even came back to a break ball. However, Tsitsipas knew how to defuse this. Only two points later the match was over.
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The game at 6: 5 in the fifth section was the most difficult of his life, said Tsitsipas after the game. "I'm speechless. I have no words for what just happened. The emotions at the end are indescribable," said the 22-year-old, who concluded the epic five-sentence battle with a remarkable backhand winner along the line.
Tsitsipas in the semifinals against Medvedev
This blow was an indication of a dreamlike security that the ATP Finals winner of 2020 had developed in the course of the match. "I flew like a little bird. Everything worked for me," said Tsitsipas in view of what was probably the best performance of his career - in terms of mentality it definitely was.
The "little bird" will need a similar performance - both mental and playful - in the semifinals. Because Daniil Medvedev, the best player of the past months, is waiting there. But after this performance it would not be surprising if Tsitsipas would also fly into the final on Friday.
Here is the men's single tableau at the Australian Open
laver arena