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Stefanos Tsitsipas insists he has an “further connection” with the Rod Laver Area after clinching among the finest wins of his profession over Rafael Nadal within the Australian Open quarter-finals. Tsitsipas got here from two units down and received a fifth set tiebreak to ebook his spot within the ultimate 4.
The Greek is into the semis of the Melbourne Grand Slam for the second time in his profession having been defeated by Nadal in straight units in 2019.
That 12 months, Tsitsipas beat 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer – the event’s defending champion – on centre court docket within the fourth spherical.
And his win over Nadal was his second in opposition to a top-10 opponent on the Rod Laver Area because the world No 6 booked a semi-final showdown with fourth seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Within the different semi-final, world No 1 Novak Djokovic is the large favorite to beat Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev, who has shocked the tennis world to get to this stage, on Thursday (8.30am UK time).
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The Serbian was the pre-tournament favorite to say the title, which might be his ninth in Melbourne, however Tsitsipas will harbour hopes of downing him if he can get previous Medvedev.
The 22-year-old has overwhelmed Djokovic twice in six conferences and took the highest seed to 5 units in French Open semi-finals again in October.
And after downing Nadal, Tsitsipas insists he has a particular feeling when taking part in on the primary court docket on the Australian Open following his victory over the Spaniard, and his defeat of Swiss icon Federer on the exact same floor two years in the past.
Requested how he compares his win over Nadal to his triumph in opposition to Federer, Tsitsipas mentioned: “It brings again actually good feelings and emotions.
“Undoubtedly, you recognize, I really feel one thing further, an additional reference to this court docket, with Rod Laver.
“I’ve had nice moments, moments that simply elevated me and moments that I’ll always remember. Rod Laver is one among my favorite arenas, courts. It is an incredible place to play tennis.
“Each single 12 months that I get to play on this court docket retains getting higher and higher, and I am glad that I get alternative to play such stunning courts with crowd that understands about tennis, they usually deliver within the environment.”
And Tsitsipas admits he admires Djokovic’s formidable report on the first Slam of the 12 months, which reads 75-8 – his better of all 4 majors – and has seen him win all of his final 19 matches at this occasion.
“Properly, he is an incredible fighter,” he mentioned. “He had nice victories on this court docket. I’ve watched lots of his matches once I was youthful, not but within the tour.
“I bear in mind an epic battle he had in opposition to Stan Wawrinka which was one thing to recollect. I beloved this match.
“He had nice matches on Rod Laver, and he has been dominating. He has been successful right here in Australia for a few years.
“I a lot respect what he does, and his consistency in Aussie soil. He appears to be loving taking part in right here. It is his vibe.”
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