From under the radar, to into the spotlight: Why Tsitsipas could be about to take the next step

Stefanos Tsitsipas has been the highest-ranked man in Australian Open contention for more than a week. But with the intense interest in and scrutiny of Novak Djokovic – and whether it’s only the Serbian’s hammy that will stop him getting his 10th title – the Greek has flown slightly under the radar.

It’s not that Melburnians and Australians know nothing about Tsitsipas – the 24-year-old is instead doing everything possible to endear himself to the locals – but in terms of pure form analysis, the question of Djokovic or the field is usually answered with this: Djokovic.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the semi finals after defeating Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday night.Credit:Eddie Jim

But men’s tennis is undergoing a transformation and upheaval of sorts. Roger Federer is now confined to the pages of history – brilliant modern history mind you – but busier with fashion shoots than with forehands. Defending champion Rafael Nadal, the tournament’s top seed and in the same half of the draw as Tsitsipas, was forced out with the latest complaint for a 36-year-old, a strained hip flexor.

Tsitsipas hasn’t exactly cruised along in Melbourne but has had a good hit-out of matches, including being forced to five tough sets against Jannik Sinner in the fourth round. That contest was a key part of his preparation. The Greek’s semi-final on Friday against the underrated Karen Khachanov in the bright afternoon sunshine promises to be a belter. Beyond that, AO insiders would dearly love a showdown between Djokovic and Tsitispas under the bright lights of the final night of the tournament.

The Greek reached the 2021 Roland Garros final so going deep at the majors is not foreign to him, but if his first major win comes on Melbourne’s hard courts it would seem oh so fitting. Fans Down Under have had an up close look at his progress, from promising teenager and next-generation prospect five or so years ago, to a top 10 fixture. Tsitsipas has lived the highs and lows on his Melbourne Park journey so far.

Four times now he has reached the semi-finals in Melbourne, first destroyed by Nadal in 2019, well beaten (also in straight sets) by Daniil Medvedev in 2021, and then again not quite good enough to get past Medvedev last year. If sport is about incremental progression and slowly breaking down the wall in front of you, Tsitsipas seems ready for the next step.

Two years ago, Melbourne was the scene of a breakthrough moment for Tsitsipas. Thanks to his predilection for evocative language and a sometimes-dreamy approach to life and the game he plays, he described his quarter-final victory over Nadal as a “nirvana” moment.

It was just his second win over the Spanish great in nine matches overall, and hard-earned with a comeback win over five sets, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 7-5.

“I don’t know why, I just woke up today and felt really relaxed and I just felt like things are going to go my way, I don’t know how to explain it,” Tsitsipas said as he made a big career inroad, only a few months before playing Roland Garros final.

“I was very serene during the match.”

Compare that sharply to two years previously when Tsitsipas, aged 20 and desperately trying to make inroads, was destroyed by Nadal, dropping the final set to love and losing 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in a lopsided semi.

The youthful Greek was shell-shocked – the reality that the gap between his best and what was being served up by Nadal hitting him flush between the eyes.

At the time Tsitsipas said Nadal had a “different dimension of tennis” and, in simple terms, he “makes you play bad”.

“I have no idea what I can take from that match,” Tsitsipas said four years ago. “It’s not that I was even close to getting to something. I only got six games. I feel very strange.

“I feel happy with my performance in this tournament but, at the same time, I feel disappointed. It’s a very weird feeling. It’s annoying that I didn’t get close to breaking him.

“It felt like a different dimension of tennis. He gives you no rhythm. He plays just a different game style than the rest of the players. He has this talent that no other player has. I’ve never seen a player have this. He makes you play bad.”

Fast-forward to now and with three major semi-finals under his belt and his experience in Paris behind him when Tsitsipas lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic, and it’s like Nadal’s 2019 destruction of him was more like a lifetime ago.

Tsitsipas and his team had a hit up on one of Melbourne Park’s show courts on Wednesday. Only a smattering of spectators watched on. None of his Melbourne’s large Greek supporting fraternity were there. It was as low-key as it gets for the world No.4 – probably just how his team likes it.

Tsitsipas, his father Apostolos and the easily recognised local in the camp, Australia’s Mark Philippoussis, were simply enjoying Australia’s January sunshine as Tsitsipas got the cobwebs out of his system by powering forehands and backhands across court nearly two days after his last match, against little-known Czech Jiri Lehecka in the quarters.

Tsitsipas looked primed and up for his next challenge. Will Rod Laver Arena on Friday be the scene of his next big moment?

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