Federer Knocked Out by Greek Wunderkind Tsitsipas

Date: 20 January 2019 - 21:41

News ID: ۶۲۲۵۶

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer's bid for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles was crushed on Sunday as Greek wunderkind Stefanos Tsitsipas rose up to floor the Swiss master and become his nation's first Grand Slam quarter-finalist.
In a match pitting the oldest and youngest players left in the men's draw, the 20-year-old Tsitsipas overhauled Federer 6-7(11) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(5) under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, sparking delirium among Greek fans out in force at Melbourne Park.
The 37-year-old Federer, 20 times a Grand Slam champion, will rue his chances, having failed to convert any of the 12 break points he took from Tsitsipas over the course of a riveting clash laden with sparkling shot-making.
Instead, it was Tsitsipas showing a wise head on young shoulders in a final tiebreak of unrelenting tension.
When given a match point after Federer slapped a forehand long, he converted it clinically, forcing a backhand error from the Swiss to announce himself on one of the game's biggest stages.
He raised his arms in triumph and roared at the terraces, bringing tears of joy to his brother's eyes in the players' box.
Tsitsipas may be set for even bigger prizes, with a semi-final on offer should he beat 22nd-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
***************Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts after winning a point against Switzerland's Roger Federer during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019.