Stefanos Tsitsipas' silver lining: Cherishing Roger Federer’s a centesimal title in defeat

Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete in his third Dubai closing on Saturday, The Greek misplaced the earlier two to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He know hopes to topple Felix Auger-Aliassime and rejoice within the desert for the primary time.

Talking about his first Dubai closing, the Greek admitted the blended emotions after ending runner-up. Whereas shedding a ATP closing is rarely simple, particularly on the younger age, Stefanos felt thrilled about his idol’s achievement.

Specifically, Roger lifted his a centesimal ATP title that day, turning into the second participant within the Open period to attain that after Jimmy Connors. Thus, it was a bittersweet second Tsitsipas nonetheless cherishes. He cracked the top-10 following this outcome and favored what he noticed about his tennis future.

Reminiscing on the time Roger Federer defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas on the Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships to carry his a centesimal tour-level title.🙌#NittoATPFlashback | #associate pic.twitter.com/iVaxrJfYAx

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2025

The younger gun shocked the legend on the Australian Open a few weeks earlier. Nonetheless, the Swiss responded within the desert at certainly one of his favourite tournaments, beating the Greek 6-4, 6-4 in 70 minutes and writing historical past books.

Roger claimed 15 factors greater than Stefanos and served at 76%. The veteran defended each break factors and mounted the strain on the opposite aspect. Tsitsipas additionally confronted two break factors, failing to defend them and settling for the runner-up prize.

Stefanos Tsitsipas & Roger Federer, Dubai 2019© Stream screenshot

Federer landed 25 winners and 15 unforced errors, taming his strokes properly and forging the win within the shortest vary as much as 4 strokes. They stayed neck and neck within the mid-range and most prolonged exchanges, with the younger gun presenting his wealthy expertise.

Roger grabbed a break within the first recreation of the match when his rival sprayed a forehand error. The Swiss served properly and moved 5-3 up with a forehand volley winner in recreation eight. Federer served for the set at 5-4 and squandered a 40-0 lead.

The veteran confronted two break factors and saved them earlier than wrapping up the set after Stefanos’ forehand mistake. They served properly within the opening eight video games of the second set, with the Australian Open semi-finalist following the legend’s tempo.

Nonetheless, all of it modified at 4-4. From 0-30, Roger landed a winner and welcomed three errors from his opponent to offer an important break and transfer 5-4 in entrance. Federer served for the title in recreation ten and landed three service winners, transferring excessive in type and incomes his a centesimal ATP trophy.

“I was sad for myself but also happy about Roger and his incredible achievement. It was a great day to remember, and I knew my tennis was headed in the right direction. It felt good to fight in the ATP 500 final against a strong rival, and I wanted more of that in the future.

I cracked the top-10 after that week and felt proud of myself, as I always wanted to accomplish that,” Stefanos Tsitsipas mentioned.