These are the four keys to Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Australian Open 2021 sensational win over opponent Rafael Nadal…..
The following written content by Jake Michaels and Matt Walsh
MELBOURNE, Australia — World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas joined an illustrious club in Wednesday’s Australian Open quarterfinal. The Greek joined Roger Federer and Fabio Fognini as the only players to ever come from two sets down to defeat 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
Tsitsipas looked lost through most of the first three sets of his quarterfinal against Nadal, but somehow managed to bank the third set tiebreaker.
From that point, his confidence rose, as did his skill level, and after 4 hours, 5 minutes, Tsitsipas completed one of the most difficult tasks in tennis, in the process booking a place in the Australian Open semifinals for the second time in his career.
“I feel an extra connection with this court,” Tsitsipas said after his 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 7-5 win. “I’ve had moments that have elevated me and moments I will never forget.”
Here are the four moments that led to Tsitsipas’ sensational win.
The fitness factor
Tsitsipas did not have to take to the court for his fourth-round clash against Matteo Berrettini after the Italian withdrew an hour out from their contest, citing a nagging abdominal injury.
With a free pass through to the last eight, Tsitsipas spent Monday evening having a brief practice hit on one of Melbourne’s show courts, a far less strenuous excursion than if he’d come up against the world No. 9.
Plus, considering Tsitsipas is 12 years younger than Nadal, it’s clear he went into the quarterfinal the fresher of the two, though without immediate match fitness, something that showed early on. The No. 5 seed Tsitsipas didn’t get a look at a single break point opportunity through the opening three sets, the first two which Nadal won easily.
Third-set tiebreaker
It looked as if Nadal would be off the court, showered and back to his hotel room well before midnight, when he began the quarterfinal in similar fashion that got him to that point. After all, he had made it this far without dropping a set. Read more from ESPN.
History: Here’s Rafael Nadal beat Stefanos Tsitsipas to advance to Aussie Open final in 2019:
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