Third time is a charm, they say; will two-time Australian Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas kick his biggest goal in 2022?
After tonight’s epic game, a cut-throat battle that turned into a five-set thriller, 4th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas progressed to the quarter-finals beating his opponent, American Taylor Fritz.
The Greek star won 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 despite a warning and time violation penalty early in the match.
Fritz took control early on in the match with his forehand leaving Tsitsipas a little ‘lost’, appearing not to be able to tell the time or register some of his winning points.
At one point he served while walking to the line, down 15-40, with Fritz breaking serve for 4-3.
WHAT AN EPIC! 💥 Tsitsipas prevails in one of the matches of the tournament! 🔥🔥#AusOpen – Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/LNfohgVbJG
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 24, 2022
Tsitsipas made a stunning comeback in the second set, dominating with a 4-3 lead sending one of his strongest serves to Fritz, and walking away not even realising he had broken him. It was the audience that made him understand he was winning.
Tsitsipas played his backhand in the third set while Fritz continued to pounce with his forehand.
It was one of the toughest fights on both fronts, with neither player backing down in the slightest.
Fritz almost took control but Tsitsipas did not allow a break, saving three set points in a row.
The stress was real for the world number four being given a warning from the chair umpire for on-court coaching from his father in the fourth set; Tsitsipas didn’t enjoy his father’s critique which gave it away.
Soon after Tsitsipas broke Fritz serving out for the fourth set.
While Fritz set the tone to win the fifth with a great forehand winner, Tsitsipas persevered turning the set around, eventually winning the round in three torturous hours and 23 minutes.
Tsitsipas now faces 11th seed Italian Jannik Sinner in the quarter final this Wednesday.
