After 5 consecutive year-end top-6 seasons, Stefanos Tsitsipas completed the season behind us exterior the top-10. The Greek secured one other Monte Carlos Masters crown and reached the Roland Garros quarter-final.
Nevertheless, his outcomes at different notable tournaments weren’t ok to maintain him within the top-10 for an additional 12 months. Tsitsipas will attempt to bounce again in 2025 and enhance his sport and rating positions, aiming to problem the rivals from the highest on the notable scene.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
Stefanos recalled the 2023 Australian Open closing towards Novak Djokovic forward of the United Cup. The Greek stood a win away from turning into a Main winner and world no. 1, searching for his childhood goals and expectations.
Nevertheless, Novak prevailed 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 in just below three hours, lifting his tenth Australian Open trophy and writing historical past books. Regardless of a tricky loss, Tsitsipas describes this match as his most cherished reminiscence from the tennis court docket.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 29, 2023
Novak couldn’t compete in Melbourne in 2022. He bounced again a 12 months later and secured his twenty second Main title, matching Rafael Nadal’s unbelievable document. Djokovic and Tsitsipas fought for the ATP throne, and the extra skilled Serb handed Carlos Alcaraz and added extra no. 1 weeks to his tally.
Tsitsipas gave every little thing towards the strongest opponent, particularly in units two and three. Djokovic claimed 18 factors greater than his rival, taking pivotal factors and rising on the prime. Novak tamed his strokes properly, hitting extra winners than unforced errors.
Stefanos Tsitsipas & Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
Stefanos attacked however sprayed too many errors, settling for the runner-up prize. They stayed neck and neck within the shortest and most prolonged rallies. The Serb took cost within the mid-range exchanges, incomes the title in that section.
It was a decent encounter with solely three breaks. Djokovic grabbed two and dropped serve as soon as. Novak entered the match with a 9-0 rating within the finals in Melbourne, which gave him a lift and confidence. The Serb served effectively within the opener and saved the strain on the opposite facet.
Novak closed the primary sport of the duel with a forehand winner and generated two break possibilities within the subsequent one. Was it sufficient for an early break? No, as Stefanos denied them and prevented an early setback. Nevertheless, Djokovic made one other push at 2-1.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
The Serb grabbed a break after the Greek’s double fault. He moved in entrance and wrapped up the opening set with a service winner at 5-3 after 36 minutes of flawless tennis. Tsitsipas served effectively within the second set and adopted the legend’s tempo earlier than making a set level!
Djokovic reached deuces on the return in video games 5 and 7 however did not generate break possibilities. Novak served to remain within the set at 4-5 and skilled the primary points behind the preliminary shot. He missed a backhand and provided his rival a set level.
The veteran saved it with a forehand down the road winner, bringing the sport house for 5-5 and extra pleasure. The set went right into a tie break, and Stefanos netted a forehand within the fifth level to seek out himself 4-1 behind.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
He bounced again with two mini-breaks and locked the consequence at 4-4. Djokovic moved 5-4 up and welcomed the rival’s backhand mistake within the subsequent one for 2 set factors. The nine-time champion transformed the primary with a booming serve, opening two units to like hole after an hour and 46 minutes.
Novak took a toilet break and misplaced his focus a bit. He missed a backhand within the first sport of the third set, shedding serve for the one time. Stefanos couldn’t construct on that, shedding serve within the second sport and bringing the legend again to the constructive facet.
Novak Djokovic & Stefanos Tsitsipas, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
The servers stood sturdy within the upcoming video games, and the Greek fired a forehand winner in sport six for 3-3. The Serb grabbed the seventh sport at love with a backhand winner and mirrored that at 4-4, conserving the strain on the opposite facet.
Tsitsipas served to remain within the match in sport ten and landed two direct factors at 30-30 to shut it and prolong his possibilities. Novak produced one other maintain at love within the eleventh sport, and Stefanos responded with an ace within the subsequent one for a tie break.
Djokovic used his huge expertise and painted a backhand return winner for 2-0. The Serb claimed the opening 5 factors and cast a large benefit. The Greek claimed three straight factors and lowered the deficit.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
Nevertheless, Novak blasted a forehand down the road winner within the ninth level, producing three match factors. Tsitsipas saved two on his serve, transferring again to 5-6. Novak transformed the third with a pressured error, celebrating his twenty second Main crown and the tenth in Melbourne.
“The 2023 Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic is my best memory from tennis court. I finished runner-up, but it was a huge career moment. I was a win away from lifting a Major trophy and becoming world no. 1, which was my childhood dream. Both achievements were in front of me. It’s probably the only time I felt everything was under my control. I had to keep my focus on maximum against such a strong opponent, which did not happen. However, the importance of the match mesmerized me and made me emotional after getting so close to what I have been dreaming about my entire life,” Stefanos Tsitsipas mentioned.
