Tsitsipas knocks Federer out of Australian Open

A highly exciting match produced a deserved winner in today's eighth final of the Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas. The young Greek - he is only 20 years old - and current number 14 in the world rankings found himself facing none other than his idol Roger Federer in the match, who came here to win. Many had the young Greek as an underdog on the bill and probably didn't think his chances were too great. All the better the surprise for the Greeks, who went wild for their fighter.

It's all a question of nerves
The match was for the most part and for long stretches very even. A cool Roger Federer met a courageously serving Tsitsipas, who is not afraid to take full risk on his second serve. The first set was close and led into a tie-break, which Federer won 13:11 after a tough struggle. Here it was Federer's usual nerves of steel that helped him to break through. The young Greek struggled with the loss of the first set throughout the entire second set. While Federer won his games in a short time and almost effortlessly, Tsitsipas had to fight for almost 10 minutes to get his game through. At 5:5 in the second set, Tsitsipas seemed to catch himself and managed to win two points in Federer's game, which obviously gave him a huge boost. He suddenly equalized effortlessly in 80 seconds to 6:6. Mentally strengthened again, the match now seemed to turn in Tsitsipas' favor. He easily won the second tiebreak 7:3.

Tsitsipas comes up trumps
Now Tsitsipas had a slight upwind. Again and again he shone with fabulous serves and in the third set suddenly with impressive passing balls, which destroyed Federer's point, which he already thought he had won. It was largely a mental battle between the two. But Federer showed his fighting spirit until the end. The breakthrough seemed to be made when Tsitsipas managed to take the third set somewhat unexpectedly 7:5 without the need for another tie-break. He was also helped by his courage in repeatedly storming to the net and scoring there.

Federer combative
Federer always showed variability and fighting spirit, but there were also numerous misses from him, which probably would not have happened to him in his best years. One should not forget that Roger Federer is already 37 years old and thus one of the oldest players on the ATP. Tsitsipas was lively, fresh, young, cheeky, dynamic, aggressive, although he lacked experience and had to struggle with a certain nervousness.

Tennis god on the side of the young Greek
The fourth set ended again where two sets had already ended, in a tie-break. And the chances were good that Federer could turn the match around again and it would then go over a grueling 5th set. Federer appeared tense, but by no means dispirited. He has had his back against the wall in too many matches in his life, and yet he turned it around and lifted the trophy in the end. But the tennis god was probably on the side of the young, likeable Greek today, who won the hearts of the spectators with his courageous play and shone with a fabulous 20 aces, which also left an impression on Federer. In the end, Federer was unable to hold off Tsitsipas' onslaught. With a 7:5 in the third tie-break of the fourth set, Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed victory in the round of 16 of the Australian Open 2019 against Roger Federer and now moves into the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for Tuesday, 22.01.2019.

Is a new, young generation of tennis players now following suit to replace the established guard?