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TOKYO (AP) — A household legacy. A Greek custom. A person breakthrough.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is making an attempt to match his grandfather by profitable a gold medal on the Olympics.
After being pushed to a few units in his opening match on the Tokyo Video games, the fourth-ranked Tsitsipas stepped up his play in a 6-3, 6-4 win over Frances Tiafoe to succeed in the final 16 on Tuesday.
It was a measure for revenge for Tsitsipas, who was crushed in straight units by the 54th-ranked American within the first spherical of Wimbledon a month in the past.
It was additionally the primary match of the Olympic tennis event held indoors. With rain falling exterior, organizers closed the roof over the Ariake Coliseum.
Tsitsipas’ grandfather, Sergei Salnikov, was a part of the Soviet Union soccer staff that received gold on the 1956 Melbourne Video games. His mom is Russian and is father is Greek, though Grandpa Sergei additionally had Greek roots.
Tsitsipas has talked usually this week about being impressed by Greece’s position in Olympic historical past — from historical occasions to internet hosting the primary Video games of the trendy period in 1896; to not point out the 2004 Video games in Tsitsipas’ hometown of Athens, when he was simply studying to play as a 6-year-old.
Tsitipas, who completed runner-up to Novak Djokovic at this yr’s French Open in his first Grand Slam remaining, can be entered within the Olympic blended doubles competitors with Greek teammate Maria Sakkari.
Sakkari was enjoying fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina later in singles.
Tsitsipas took management from the beginning, breaking Tiafoe’s serve on the first alternative to take a 2-0 lead within the opening set then one other break halfway via the second.
The indoor setting supplied excellent serving situations and Tsitsipas hit 9 aces to Tiafoe’s three.
Together with his lengthy hair held along with a blue ponytail holder to match his shirt within the blue-and-white colours of the Greek flag, Tsitsipas additionally compiled 28 winners to the Tiafoe’s 13.
Tsitsipas will subsequent face both 14th-seeded Ugo Humbert of France or Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia for a spot within the quarterfinals. Another victory after that and he’ll be within the medal rounds.
Whereas spectators are barred from a lot of the Tokyo Video games, Tsitsipas had some vocal assist from Greek workers members within the stands, who additionally draped a big Greek flag over a barrier behind one finish of the court docket.
Tiafoe was nonetheless to play once more with companion Rajeev Ram within the second spherical of the doubles event towards the Croatian pair of Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig.
On Heart Court docket, dwelling favourite Naomi Osaka of Japan was enjoying 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova for a spot within the quarterfinals.
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Related Press reporter Syd Fryer contributed to this report.
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Extra AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2020-tokyo-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf
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