Tsitsipas Challenges Fans To Up Their Game After Big Win
20 January 2020 10:34
Stefanos Tsitsipas burst into the Australian Open second round on Monday night by sweeping past Italian Stefano Caruso 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 43 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
Tsitsipas had fun with the crowd, who broke into chants during the match and during his post-match on-court interview. Afterwards, the 22-year-old said: "They are the ones who really bring the energy. They did come up with some new chants, but please next match I want even more."
The sixth-seeded Greek lost just nine points in the first set and won 33 of his 36 first-service points (92 per cent) overall. He closed out his fourth match point with his eighth ace.
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Tsitsipas captured his biggest title at the Nitto ATP Finals in November, ending a career-best season that had started with reaching his first Grand Slam championship semi-final at the Australian Open (l. to Nadal).
"I came in not as the favourite, and I remember winning every single match in four sets [against Matteo Berrettini, Viktor Troicki, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Roger Federer and Roberto Bautista Agut],” said Tsitsipas. "I feel number four was my favourite number, but I'm glad I didn't have go four sets today.
"Last year was outstanding; I get goosebumps just thinking about what I went through, and I hope for something similar this year or even better."
He will next play Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who has reached the fourth round on three previous occasions (2005, 2008 and 2012), or 2014 NCAA singles champion Marcos Giron of the United States in the second roundreadfullarticle
