Tennis

Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas downs Jannik Sinner in five sets

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The 3rd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to his sixth Major quarter-final and the third in a row in Melbourne. Stefanos took down Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in four hours at Rod Laver Arena to remain on the title course. Tsitsipas made a better start, prevailing in the crucial points in the opening two sets to build a massive advantage. The Italian bounced back in sets three and four to force a decider before losing ground and hitting the exit door. Sinner created a monumental 26 break points (18 in sets three and four) and converted only four to plague his chances. Stefanos delivered five return games, including a decisive one in the middle of the final set that pushed him through. They stayed neck and neck in the shortest range up to four strokes, and the mid-range and most extended rallies could not make a big difference. It all came down to Tsitsipas’ fine serving in the fifth set and that lone break. Jannik sprayed a forehand mistake in the encounter’s first game for an early setback.

Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Jannik Sinner in five sets at Rod Laver Arena.

Stefanos saved four break points in game two to confirm the lead and served well in games four and six for 4-2. Sinner pushed strong on the return in game eight and fired a backhand crosscourt winner to pull the break back and level the score at 4-4. Instead of building on that, the Italian sprayed a forehand mistake in game nine and fell 5-4 behind. The Greek served for the set in game ten and held at 15 to claim the opener in 45 minutes. They traded breaks in the second set’s games three and four and served well after that to reach 4-4. Like in the opener, Stefanos delivered a crucial break in game nine following a forehand crosscourt winner. The Greek served for the set at 5-4 and experienced a break point after the Italian’s forehand winner. Stefanos erased it with a powerful serve and hit another on his second set point to build a massive advantage after an hour and a half.

Jannik served well in the third set and created ten break opportunities. Stefanos saved six break points in games two and four before Jannik seized the seventh to forge a 3-1 lead. Tsitsipas saved three set points on his serve in game eight before Sinner blasted an ace down the T line at 5-3 to wrap up the set and reduce the overall deficit. The younger player dropped only four points behind the initial shot in the fourth set and kept the pressure on the other side. Jannik broke in the third game and clinched the set with a service winner at 5-4 to force a decider after three hours and 20 minutes. Tsitsipas made a fresh start in the final set and served well in all five service games. He grabbed a break in game six and moved closer to the finish line. The Greek served for the victory at 5-3 and landed a forehand winner to seal the deal and advance into the last eight for the third straight year in Melbourne. 

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