Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam singles final after beating Alexander Zverev at the Roland-Garros tournament semi-finals in Paris on Friday.
The 22-year-old player’s victorious performance over 24-year-old German player Zverev was won in five sets.
Tsitsipas will face Novak Djokovic in the tournament’s upcoming final starting on Sunday at 11 pm (AET).
“All I can think of is my roots, a small place outside Athens where I dreamed to play on the big stage at the French Open,” said a tearful Tsitsipas on making his first final at the majors, secured on a fifth match point.
“It was nerve-wracking, so intense, I stayed alive. I went out there and fought. This win means a lot, it’s the most important one of my career so far.”
Tsitsipas had lost all of his previous three semi-finals at the Slams — at the 2019 and 2021 Australian Open as well as Roland Garros last year in five sets to Djokovic.
“It was just such a big relief I was able to close it in such a good way,” he said.
“It was just exhausting. I’m proud of myself. I’m grateful for every single match that I get to play. I’m obviously just blessed to have the opportunity to play against the best and test myself.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Sports Minister Lefteris Avgenakis congratulated Tsitsipas in social media; “This is the biggest success of international player Tsitsipas, and the most historic day in Greek tennis. Congratulations, Stefanos!”, the minister wrote on Twitter.