Team Greece celebrated its return to the Davis Cup World Group 1 with a resounding victory over Romania, securing a 4-0 win at the Olympic Center in Ano Liosia.On the second day of the matches, Greek fans cheered for Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas, who, playing together in the doubles, secured a comeback victory against Marius Copil and Victor Vlad Cornea with a score of 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4.
With this win, the Greek team completed three victories (following the two successes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Aristotelis Thanos on Saturday).
“We had strong opponents from the other side of the net. We had to show strength and composure. We did our job very well after the first set. I think our chemistry improved significantly after losing the first set,” Stefanos Tsitsipas said.
He added, “I want to thank all the fans and supporters. You inspire us and give us a lot of energy.”
Speaking about Team Greece’s goals in the prestigious Davis Cup, Stefanos Tsitsipas added, “I don’t set limits for the team. I believe it is capable of achieving anything. I am here to support them in my own way. I have gathered a lot of experiences from the ATP Tour, and I believe this helps me pass them on to the entire team. I am proud of all our efforts in recent years to move up a category. I would not set any limits due to the work of the players and the dedication they have shown to this fantastic team we have built. I believe in winning the Davis Cup one day.”
Petros Tsitsipas, commenting on the match, said, “It was a very good game from start to finish. Thanks to the fans who supported and stood by us in difficult moments. This is the biggest difference in the Davis Cup – having the crowd by your side and going all the way to win the match.”
The fourth and final match had a procedural character. Team Captain Dimitris Hatzinikolaou gave the opportunity to Greek champion Giannis Xylas to compete against Luca Preda, whom he defeated with a score of 6-1, 6-4.
“I had an incredible time! I’m a bit sad to return to reality from tomorrow. This week was very nice. We worked very hard, and I learned a lot from Dimitris Hatzinikolaou, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Apostolos Tsitsipas. I gained a lot of things, a lot of knowledge, and I look forward to the next time,” said Giannis Xylas after his victory.
Team Captain Dimitris Hatzinikolaou congratulated the team, stating, “I congratulate our National Team. We are all proud of them.”
He added, “The assessment is a significant qualification against the team of Romania, a country with a tradition not only in tennis but also in the Davis Cup, having played in three finals in the past. What remains for us is that we are starting to find the second and third player after Stefanos. And that is the most important, as to continue in the Davis Cup, we must be a team and have more players. I do not set limits. We started this group with Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2019. Our goal is to reach the final phase, and as the team improves, one cannot say that there are limits. We move forward and see.”
Team Greece will compete in World Group 1 on September 13-14 or 14-15, 2024. The draw for the next opponent will take place on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
The matches were broadcast live by COSMOTE TV, the Official Broadcaster of the event.
