Stefanos Tsitsipas has a history of breaking through the “Big 3” in Majors. At the 2019 Australian Open, he took out Roger Federer in four sets. That match was viewed as a potential changing of the guard, though the Greek could not advance past the semifinals there. In fact, in the five Majors since, Tsitsipas could not even reach a quarterfinal.
Until this tournament. Tsitsipas actually began the tournament in horrid form, playing a terrible opening match and dropping the first two sets to Jaume Munar. The Greek turned that match around, though, winning the final three sets without much danger.
After that, Tsitsipas blasted through the rest of his opponents without losing a set, including dominant victories over Grigor Dimitrov and Andrey Rublev in the last two rounds. He looked calm and ready for the biggest match of his life–a semifinal against Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has been indomitable this tournament. No one has truly been able to challenge him. Aside from a rough first set against Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarterfinal, Djokovic has looked in world-beating form.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak DjokovicFifth set
In the final set, it was Tsitsipas’ turn to fold. He held to open the set, but gave away his next two service games. Djokovic had a 4-1 lead, and appeared to be in full control of the match once again. Tsitsipas seemed exhausted or injured as the set went on, as his movement was extremely hampered. Djokovic, meanwhile, was raising his level. Even while struggling with apparent cramps or injury, Tsitsipas fought hard. Of course, he was up against Djokovic, who didn’t let him back in. The Greek wouldn’t win another game. Djokovic captured the fifth set 6-1, and won the match 6-3 6-2 5-7 4-6 6-1.
The final: Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
Up next is a blockbuster final for the ages. Nadal has looked potentially vulnerable at times. Djokovic, in this match, looked definitely vulnerable. And yet, these two all-time greats will meet for a battle that will be must-watch tennis. Who will win? That’s anyone’s guess. We just all know that it’s a match that everyone has to see.
Main Photo from Getty.
