© Kelly Defina / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
Last year’s Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the third round in Melbourne after an epic battle. Stefanos took down the home favorite Jordan Thompson 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 in three hours and 36 minutes, prevailing in the decisive moments and moving into the third round.
Speaking with John McEnroe after the match, Stefanos recalled his two lost Major finals to Novak Djokovic. The Greek joked and called the Serb selfish after winning the Australian Open so many times. Tsitsipas understands there are two ways for him to claim the first Major title.
Someone has to beat Novak and clear the draw, or he has to do it himself. Djokovic and Tsitsipas met in the 2021 Australian Open final, and the Greek squandered a massive advantage. Stefanos grabbed the opening two sets before Novak launched his comeback and prevailed 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in four hours and 11 minutes, lifting his second Roland Garros title.
Stefanos Tsitsipas cracked a joke about Novak Djokovic’s dominance at Majors.
Tsitsipas played well early on, moving a set away from a Major glory. However, Djokovic took a toilet break after the second set and returned as a different player, dominating sets three, four and five to keep his rival empty-handed.
Novak lost serve three times in the opening two sets, losing ground in the second before staging an impressive comeback. Djokovic looked much better already in the third set and left the rival behind in the fourth to gain a boost.
The Serb grabbed a break at 1-1 in the final set and produced five fine holds to emerge at the top.
Two rivals battled again in last year’s Australian Open final, and Djokovic scored a 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 55 minutes, lifting his tenth Australian Open trophy and a 22nd Major.
Novak played better behind the first and second serve, getting broken once and delivering two breaks. Djokovic broke Tsitsipas once in the opener and saved a set point in the second set’s tenth game. The Serb grabbed a tie break and moved two sets to love in front.
Stefanos broke early in the third set before experiencing a break in the next one. They reached a tie break, and Novak grabbed it 7-5 to seal the deal and secure his milestone tenth Australian Open title. Djokovic and Tsitsipas are set to meet in the quarter-final this year if they win two more matches.
“The numbers do not lie. Novak has won so many titles here, and he is a very selfish person. We have to wait for him to wake up one day feeling less selfish and kind of a ‘sharing is caring more’ type of vibe. There are two scenarios for me to win a Major; someone needs to beat Novak, or I have to do it myself,” Stefanos Tsitsipas said.
