Australian Open – Round of 16 | Tsitsipas-Sinner, ball of opportunities

Of the sixteen qualified for the round of 16, only three joined them without losing a single set. The Holger Rune confirmation, the Yoshihito Nishioka and Stefanos Tsitsipas surprise. Logic for the Greek? Not quite since he had never spent such a quiet first week in a Grand Slam. We can argue that Quentin Halys, guest Rinky Hijikata and Tallon Griekspoor did not represent insurmountable challenges but finally, if Tsitsipas had never reached the eighth of a Grand Slam without losing a set, there was a reason. And in a decapitated array of his headliners day after day, it had to be underlined.

The lesson of Tsitsipas in 2022

“He is often where he needs to be in Grand Slamsnotes Justine Hénin before correcting herself. Although last year…“. A half in Australia, an 8th at Roland, a 16th at Wimbledon and even a 1st round in the US for a hell of a downward slope.”He is still affected since this lost final at Roland-Garros (in 2021 against Djokovic after leading two sets to nothing), continues our consultant. We felt that there were more difficult things.”

Has he settled them, the Greek? His serenity in Melbourne would push to answer in the positive. “He plays well but you have to see him in matches where the pressure will increasenuances a Hénin who refuses to offer him a blank check. It gives the impression of really wanting it, I find it more biting. This is the positive point of Tsitsipas on this tournament“The memory of the quarter-final against Sinner last year (6-3, 6-4, 6-2) during which he had been monstrous should help him maintain his level of confidence.”Of course, I have good memories of last year.he presses. I have big guns. I can, I think, generate even more power now than before. I can take the ball early. I have many options on the ground.”

A floor in quarters in Major for Sinner

Little by little, Jannik Sinner also completes his panoply. The very solid kid grew up, literally, according to his former adviser John McEnroe, and had to adapt. He also left his lifelong coach, Ricardo Piatti, in February 2022. “He decided, I guess, he needed something different to go to another level, says the American legend. It’s maybe to be true, but it might take a little while too, that combination of things may have not derailed it, but slowed it down a bit.” Nevertheless, his floor in Major is established in the quarter-finals where Tsitsipas, Djokovic then Alcaraz stopped him last year.

We did worse like “slow-down“especially since he only gave up in the fifth set against the Serbian at Wimbledon and against the Spaniard at Flushing Meadows in a fantastic match in which he had match point.”I still believe he will win major tournaments, I think he will be a strong opponent for these guys“, prophesies McEnroe.

“It will for sure be a completely different game from last year.promises the main interested party at the Eurosport microphone. I believe that I have progressed both tennistically and physically. I expect a hooked meeting, I know he likes to play here in Australia. This is also my case. I am ready for a battle. I like these matches on the big courts” While Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev have deserted the top of the table, which Félix Auger-Aliassime worries more than he reassures, the Italian would make a big impression towards his first last four by making fun of Tsitsipas. Unless the serenity and the game of the Greek are really foolproof in 2023…