Stefanos Tsitsipas described beating Roger Federer at Rod Laver Arena as a surreal moment. In 2019, Tsitsipas faced Federer in the round of 16 at the Australian Open. In his first Grand Slam meeting, Tsitsipas stunned Federer 6-7(11) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(5).
«Roger Federer on Rod Laver in 2019. I felt like I was dreaming and I was about to wake up at any moment, but I didn’t. I couldn’t sleep that night, not at all. I could hear the crowd in my head at 2 am It won’t go away,» Tsitsipas said in a video for the Australian Open.
story time with @steftsitsipas 🇬🇷 ⚡️ 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/nVdoZgfh2N — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) December 26, 2022
Tsitsipas enjoys playing in Australia
Tsitsipas, who turned 24 in August, will make his sixth main draw appearance at the Australian Open this January.
Australia have been very good to Tsitsipas as the Greek made his first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2019 Australian Open. In his previous five Australian Open appearances, Tsitsipas has reached three semifinals. In 2021 and 2022, Tsitsipas reached back-to-back Australian Open semifinals.
«Australia feels like home. Coming here, I feel very familiar with its surroundings. I feel very comfortable staying here with the Australians. I feel like I am one with them,» Tsitsipas said. After making three semifinal appearances at the Australian Open, Tsitsipas is surely hoping to win his first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park this January.
«People ask me if I’m ready to win a Grand Slam. I really won’t know until it happens. My dream was to be the best at my craft, and I’m very close to that. I’m heading in the right direction,» Tsitsipas explained.
In 2022, Tsitsipas didn’t really enjoy much of Grand Slam success, failing to make it past the round of 16 in any of the three Grand Slam tournaments played after the Australian Open. Whether Tsitsipas can make a deep run at Melbourne Park this January remains to be seen.
