“I dreamed of that as a child. I feel blessed to play tennis at this level,” said Tsitsipas following the hard work once morest Russian Karen Khachanov: “I’m happy regarding the good fight I was able to deliver here.”
The Australian Open is one of the Greek’s favorite tournaments: in 2019, 2021 and 2022 the 24-year-old was in the semi-finals in Melbourne – now he has reached the final for the first time.
Australian Open
Tsitsipas in the Eurosport interview: where is Margot Robbie?
3 HOURS AGO
TENNIS
Karen Khachanov – Stefanos Tsitsipas
04:11:34
Tsitsipas starts the semifinals nervously
In any case, the injured Carlos Alcaraz will be replaced at the top of the world rankings. It would be Djokovic’s tenth win in Melbourne and his 22nd Grand Slam win overall. He would draw level with Rafael Nadal.
Tsitsipas was able to break twice in a nervous first set, but was countered twice by the Olympic silver medalist. So the Greek mightn’t serve out to win the set at 5:3. The tie-break was then a clear thing for Tsitsipas, who noticeably increased his level from the end of the first set.
“Without!” Khachanov error paves the way for Tsitsipas to break
In the second round everything stayed in line up to 4:4. Then a single rally made the pendulum swing clearly in the direction of Tsitsipas: At 15:30 once morest himself, the 26-year-old Russian failed to convert a smash three times. Tsitsipas forced him back into the rally and finally scored with a strong forehand cross.
“What a circus!” Tsitsipas wins monster rallies and breaks
After that, the Greek made the decisive break to lead the set 2-0.
Khachanov saves match points
For Khachanov, that was a real hit. While the Russian was unable to create any more break chances following set one, Tsitsipas took the service from him in set three to make it 3-1 for the fourth time.
At 5: 4, the 24-year-old then served to win the match, but suddenly wobbled. Khachanov created his first break chance in almost an hour and a half and was there because Tsitsipas smashed wide. Khachanov once more forced him into the tiebreak.
Smash far out! Tsitsipas wobbles at service to win the match
Everything stayed in line there until 4:3, then the Greek earned the first mini break with a great topspin forehand. After 2:40 hours, Tsitsipas had his first two match points, but the Russian showed nerves of steel once more, fended off both worth seeing and got the tie-break 8: 6.
Tiebreak drama! Khachanov fends off two match points from Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas sovereign in set four
After that, the Greek took a break and went to the changing room for several minutes to change, while Khachanov remained on the bench.
“In the past few years, following losing the third set, you would have seen a Tsitsipas breaking his racket or maybe going crazy,” said Eurosport-Expert Boris Becker:
“Now he’s a lot calmer. That also has something to do with experience – he’s suffered bitter defeats and he’s learned from them. He looks very good, better than I’ve seen in Melbourne.”
With fresh clothes, we then went to work in a concentrated manner – Tsitsipas broke to 2: 0 and served once more at 5: 3 to win the match. After 3:21 hours of play, he then converted his fourth match point to make it into the final.
It is then the fourth match point: Tsitsipas moves into the final
“It became totally solid, but caught itself once more. That shows maturity,” said tennis legend John McEnroe Eurosport appreciative.
Memories of Baghdatis
“It brings back memories of how I used to watch the tournament in front of the TV as a child, the final with Marcos Baghdatis for example,” said Tsitsipas. However, in 2006 the Cypriot lost in four sets to the great Roger Federer. “He’s one of my favorite players,” revealed Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas is in at least second place in the new world rankings following the Australian Open for the first time in his career. “I’m fighting for a Grand Slam victory and number one in the world rankings. I worked hard for these moments,” he said.
After semi-final victory: Tsitsipas makes fun of coach Philippoussis
The former world number eight Khachanov will meanwhile jump from position 20 to 13 and overtake Alexander Zverev (Hamburg/14th), among others. The Russian received the equivalent of 589,669 euros in prize money for reaching the semi-finals.
Tsitsipas’ entry into the final is endowed with 1,035,905 euros. There is a bonus of 1,896,503 euros for winning the tournament in Melbourne.
Took too long! Tsitsipas receives a penalty and fails
“It’s tough”: Tsitsipas twice with foot error
(with SID)
Australian Open
It is then the fourth match point: Tsitsipas moves into the final
4 HOURS AGO
Australian Open
Tiebreak drama! Khachanov fends off two match points from Tsitsipas
5 HOURS AGO
