ZCZC
BSP-11
TENNIS-OPEN-AUS-TSITSIPAS
Greek sensation Tsitsipas into first Slam semi-final
MELBOURNE, Jan 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas
showed resilience and maturity Tuesday to reach his first Grand Slam semi-
final with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Roger Federer’s conqueror had to contend with dropping his serve early in
each of the first three sets to the Spanish 22nd seed before coming through
in 3hr 15min.
“It all feels like a fairytale almost,” he said after holding his head in
his hands in disbelief and sinking to the floor on Rod Laver Arena.
“I’m just living the dream, living what I’ve been working hard for,”
Tsitsipas added.
“I feel a bit emotional but not too much — I know I really worked hard to
get here, playing in semis of a Grand Slam.
“I was asked my goals this year and said semis Grand Slam. And when I was
answering this question, I thought I was crazy. But it is real. It just
happened.”
Tsitsipas will face either world number two Rafael Nadal or unseeded
Frances Tiafoe for a place in the final.
Federer did not win any of 12 break points in a four-set defeat against
14th seed Tsitsipas in round four, but Bautista Agut managed it on his first
in the opening game of the match.
There was no panic from the 20-year-old from Athens and he broke back
before stealing the set 7-5 with a second break created by a rasping forehand
winner that flat-footed the Spaniard.
Bautista Agut went 2-1 up in the second set with another early break as
the Tsitsipas first serve momentarily deserted him.
This time the Spaniard stayed on top and levelled the match 6-4.
Another break for Bautista Agut came in the fifth game of the third set.
But with the crowd beginning to get more involved, Tsitsipas outlasted the
Spaniard in a gruelling game to level at 4-4.
And when another break followed the Athenian artist had his nose back in
front.
By now his serve was beginning to flow as smoothly as his mane of long
hair and there was no early break for Bautista Agut in the fourth set.
The gutsy Spaniard successfully served to stay in the match at 4-5.
But he was under pressure again at 5-6 and showed incredible resilience to
repel a first match point after a 21-shot baseline rally and take it to a
tiebreak.
But Tsitsipas jumped out to a 3-0 lead and secured the match on the first
of four more match points.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1127 hrs