Stefanos Tsitsipas, a favorite at Melbourne Park, defeated Jordan Thompson in a thrilling four-set match on Wednesday evening to advance to the third round of the Australian Open.
The seventh-ranked player in the world faced a tough challenge from the opponent from Sydney, who almost won the first two sets in a crucial tiebreak. The match was close as the Sydneysider had four opportunities to even the score at two sets. Despite this, Tsitsipas was able to withstand the intense pressure from the 47th-ranked player in the world and ultimately won the match in four thrilling sets, after three hours and 37 minutes.
Tsitsipas expressed his excitement and thrill from the match, stating that the intensity was present throughout. He also acknowledged that both players were able to showcase their best tennis skills at various points, with Jordan making a remarkable comeback during Tsitsipas’ match point.
In the fourth set, Thompson appeared to be struggling as the Greek player confidently executed his angled serve and powerful groundstrokes, earning himself a 5-3 lead. Tsitsipas even had two opportunities to win the match, but Thompson managed to make a comeback after almost four hours of playing. By hitting a deep forehand shot to Tsitsipas’ backhand, Thompson rushed towards the net and successfully scored a volley, resulting in a tie of 5-5 in the fourth set.
Thompson maintained a strong lead and then had four opportunities to win the set on the Greek player’s serve in a lengthy twelfth game that lasted over 12 minutes. However, he was unable to secure the extra point and Tsitsipas regained control, ultimately winning the deciding tiebreak with a score of 7-4.
“I have rarely encountered moments in my career where I was unable to secure the win, particularly when it came to my serve,” stated the runner-up at the 2023 Australian Open. “The challenge for me was to not give in. It would have been easy to become a victim of defeat, but I refused to let that happen. Deep down, I know that I am capable of overcoming tough situations due to my past experiences and the obstacles I have faced.”
The captivating event took place in the Margaret Court Arena, with approximately 7,500 excited fans in attendance. The crowd was evenly divided in their support between the two competitors. Melbourne’s Greek community was particularly vocal, waving blue and white flags as the sun set on the fourth day of the tournament. Tsitsipas commented on the incredible atmosphere, stating, “We had people cheering from both sides, mine and Jordan’s.”
After defeating fellow Australian Aleks Vukic in the initial round, Thompson posed a challenge for Tsitsipas as he had previously defeated him at Indian Wells in 2022. Despite reaching the final in Melbourne, the Greek player had a lackluster 2023 season and only managed to win one tournament, the ATP 250 event in Mexico. This was a disappointment for Tsitsipas, who was once close to achieving the No 1 ranking.
Prior to Wednesday’s match, he had been dealing with a back injury that had interrupted his preparation for the tournament. However, he reassured his fans in Melbourne that he had fully recovered. Some may have had concerns as they watched him struggle to assert himself against Thompson in the beginning.
During the first set, an interruption in serving gave the Australian player an advantage. The second set proceeded with no chances for either player to break serve.
Due to Thompson’s strong performance, his aggressive shots from the baseline and occasional rushes to the net, it was unfortunate that he lost the first three points in the tiebreaker of the second set. However, he made a comeback and saved three set points. Despite having the momentum on his side, a long return and a backhand into the net resulted in the match being tied.
Thompson seemed visibly shaken by the swing and his anger got the best of him during the beginning of the third set. He forcefully hit his racquet on the ground, causing a black plastic piece to bounce across the court while he was down 3-0. Despite eventually regaining composure and setting up an intense final set, the Greek player was able to do just enough to secure the win.
Tsitsipas is anticipating a match against French player Luca Van Assche, who stands at 178cm tall. Van Assche defeated 25th-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a five-set match. “He has a strong game from the baseline and moves well,” Tsitsipas commented. “Although he may not be the tallest player, he has strong skills and can keep up in long rallies.”
Thompson and fellow Australian Max Purcell are registered for the doubles tournament. Purcell will also face Casper Ruud in the men’s singles second round on Thursday.
