Stefanos Tsitsipas struggled to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. The ATP number 4 beat Taylor Fritz 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 3 hours and 23 minutes of one of the best matches so far in the tournament. He was seen against the ropes in several sets of the match. He showed his desperation with several gestures of annoyance that he almost paid for with his racket at the solidity of his rival, one of the sensations of the tournament.
Taylor Fritz, in his first time in a round of 16 in his 21 appearances in a grand slam (beat Roberto Bautistas in the third round), already gave samples of what he was going to put on the track. He was almost impregnable with his serve (70% of points won with the first service). I caressed the break in the fifth game but two break options escaped them. In the seventh, he took advantage of the first to get the first set back on track.
In the second, equality was still latent in the Rod Laver Arena. Neither of the two tennis players had a break ball until the last game. With 5-4 in his favor, the Greek did not let her pass to level the match.
Fritz grew up in the third set. He was not affected by Tsitsipas lifting four break balls in the first game. The American broke in the seventh. Up 5-3, the rest had three options to win the set. The number 4 in the world saved one after another, with blows almost impossible. Fritz was not affected. A blank game was scored with his serve to close the sleeve.
The deseperacin se apoder de Tsitsipas in the fourth set. He showed various gestures of annoyance. Down 3-2, to return, he missed an easy backhand. He yelled and made a gesture of throwing the racket against the stands. I won a warning by ‘coaching’ (receiving instructions from the coach) Then, I sent another backhand to the net. Fritz, to his own, took the game.
After holding the serve, Tsitsipas had his second break ball in the match. He punished Fritz’s backhand, but the American responded to the pressure. Not so in the next one: I sent a forehand not too complicated to the net. With the break in the pocket, the greek he breathed but a few minutes later he found himself on the ropes again. It was seen with a 15-40. He saved the situation and with two great serves the fourth set was scored.
In the fifth, the dynamic didn’t change. Fritz was still firm with his serve. Tsitsipas couldn’t find a way to break down the wall he had on the other side of the net, but he did his best in the match and in the tournament. The shock increased in intensity. The level of the two tennis players was close to perfection.
At 4-4, a Fritz double fault gave Tsitsipas the option of a possible break winner. His backhand went wide. At the second, the Greek took out a couple of balls that seemed definitive to send one of them to the feet of his rival. He didn’t pick her up. With 5-4 and on serve, Tsitsipas closed a vibrant and long-suffering game.
Janik Sinner, to the quarterfinals after beating De Miaur
His rival in quarters will be Jack Sinner. The 20-year-old Italian is also stepping on this round at the Australian Open for the first time after beat Alex de Miaur 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4. “Last year was a long year for me. I played many tournaments. I have gained a lot of experience in the last few months. I have grown as a player and also as a person. I am very happy to be in the quarterfinals,” said Sinner.
Sinner they win 75% (52/69) of the points on their first serve and 81% (26/32) of the points at net. His presence in the quarterfinals marks the first time that two Italians have been among the top eight in a grand slam, since 1973 at Roland Garros
