When Stefanos Tsitsipas was training for the 2019 season in Dubai last December, he was hoping he would hit the practice courts there with his idol Roger Federer.
The plan never materialised due to conflicting schedules, but considering how events transpired for him over the next few weeks, it’s safe to say Tsitsipas is more than okay about missing out on those practice sessions with the Swiss.
Barely three weeks into this new season, Tsitsipas didn’t just get to share a court with Federer, he defeated him, in four tension-fuelled yet impressive sets, at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. It was a match the 20-year-old Greek says he’ll never forget, and tennis fans probably won’t either.
Voted the ATP’s Most Improved Player in 2018, Tsitsipas crept up onto the scene last year, shooting up the rankings from 91 at the start of the season to No.15 just eight months later. He won a title in Stockholm and reached two more finals, and defeated four consecutive top-10 players en route to the championship decider at the Masters event in Toronto. He also made the second week at a Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon.
If there was any concern about whether Tsitsipas would be able to back up his strong results from last year, his performances this week, en route to his first major quarterfinal against Roberto Bautista Agut, have been the perfect way to silence any doubters, and strengthen the faith of his believers.
The men’s game hasn’t just been craving a young talent to step up and threaten the ‘Big Three’ (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic), it’s been desperate for big personalities as well to share the spotlight with the sport’s legendary trio.
Tsitsipas is shaping up to be the answer to both.
During his first three matches this fortnight at the Australian Open, Tsitsipas was buoyed by the vibrant Greek fans, loudly chanting from the stands of some of the smaller arenas around the venue. In Sunday’s fourth round, Tsitsipas’ experience was completely different. There he was taking on the man he idolised since he was six years old, in front of 15,000 people at Rod Laver Arena, most of which were screaming out Federer’s name at the top of their lungs.
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Every match for Federer is like a home game for the Swiss maestro, and while the Australian Greek fans were throwing a huge party for Tsitsipas outside in Garden Square, the spectators inside the stadium were predominantly adoring Fed fans.
Tsitsipas went from having an entire crowd behind him for his opening three matches, to one that was totally against him for his biggest test yet. Turns out, it didn’t really matter as Tsitsipas proved he can deliver under any circumstances. That isn’t just talent, it’s equally character.
The young Greek really is the full package. On the court he showcases an exciting game style. From his one-handed backhand, to his diving volleys, to his aggressive approach and booming serves, it’s the kind of game you don’t necessarily expect from a 20-year-old.
“I enjoy watching him. I think it’s been wonderful to see how quickly he’s adjusted to faster surfaces,” Andre Agassi told reporters in Melbourne this week.
“When you look at him at first glance, it’s easy to see a big guy with long swings, who might struggle as the pace of the game picks up on faster courts, but he’s a competitor and he’s making little adjustments that’s proving that he can hang in there on multiple surfaces, which will give him a lot of looks. He’s going to have to be dealt with, he’s not going to give it to you.
“He’s a fighter and I like watching his spirit. I wish I had his hair,” added the American with a laugh.
Off the court, Tsitsipas is just as intriguing. There is a philosophical air to his rhetoric, and he has a penchant for art and creativity. When he’s not hitting tennis balls or in the gym, he’s an amateur photographer and vlogger (his YouTube channel is definitely worth a visit). He has an alternative Instagram account (@stevethehawk) where he shares his photos, usually accompanied by thought-provoking lines.
“I pretty much operate on adrenaline and ignorance,” read a caption of a photo of himself on a jet ski.
“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life,” he posted, along with an image from one of his photoshoots.
“A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dream,” he posted with a still from the streets of New York.
There’s a humorous side to him as well. “I give top-koality hugs,” read the caption of a photo of him with a koala here in Australia.
The first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, Tsitsipas takes lots of pride from where he’s from. When he was asked earlier this fortnight what would mean more to him – a maiden Grand Slam title or an Olympic gold medal – he wrestled with a response before picking the latter.
“Why do I have to answer that?” he said with a smile. “I’ll go for the Olympic gold. It just means so much. A childhood dream.”
Sport runs deep in Tsitsipas’ family. He is coached by his father Apostolos, who used to play tennis, and his mother, Julia, was a professional tennis player. His maternal grandfather, Sergei Salnikov, was an Olympic gold medal-winning footballer for the Soviet Union and has coached FC Spartak Moscow.
Tsitsipas admits Greeks may not be known to be hard workers but says he was keen to take that mentality and “reverse it” when it comes to his own career.
His ambition is what strikes you the most, and even after claiming a dream victory against Federer on Sunday, he was quick to remind himself that his journey in Melbourne is not over yet.
“This win is a good milestone, let's say a good first step to something bigger,” he said.
“I do feel like my game is pretty good at the moment. I feel confident. That's very important. I'm really pumped and excited to be competing in the quarterfinals two days from now. I'm really waiting for that moment.”