Australian Open 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas scores a blowout round of 16 win over Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner missed 22 of 26 break chances in the Round of 16 duel with Stefanos Tsitsipas. In the fifth set, however, the Greek served without allowing the South Tyrolean to break the ball. “It was a long match, it was like a century on the court,” said the Greek: “It was a great night.”

“Congratulations to him, he’s been through heaven and hell,” said EurosportExpert Boris Becker on the winner: “He stayed strong.” Tsitsipas was also a bit exhausted. “I’m so hot I want to jump in the Yarra River,” he said.

Tsitsipas started the match with a break. Sinner equalized to make it 4:4 but quickly conceded the rebound which gave the Greek the first set after 45 minutes.

Tsitsipas, ranked three, initially dictated most of the rallies, but Sinner was able to convince again and again from the second set with strong counterattacks. The South Tyrolean visibly raised his level and caught up with another break at the start of the second set (2-2).

Tsitsipas harder than Sinner

“Some of his shots remind me a bit of Djokovic,” said expert Boris Becker as a co-commentator. Eurosport. At 4:4, the 21-year-old had his serve taken away again, which was decisive for the set.

Above all, Sinner lacked insensitivity – in the first two rounds he missed six of eight break chances, while Tsitsipas used the four chances he had like freezing cold. It didn’t improve for the South Tyrolean over the course of the game.

From the third set, however, Sinner played at eye level with Tsitsipas – and sometimes even above. At 3:1, he went a little away for the first time in the match and, despite nine missed break chances (1/10), sealed the set without losing serve.

Sinner catches up 0: 2 sets behind

Now the Greek was reeling; Sinner again took serve away from him to make it 2:1 in the fourth and held the break lead until the set was leveled. 3h20 were played there.

“He played incredibly in the third and fourth sets,” Tsitsipas also had to admit after the match.

However, the youngster couldn’t use the momentum. At the start of the fifth set, Tsitsipas regained the initiative. If the South Tyrolean was able to make up a 0:40 to 1:2, he had to give up a service game later.

Tsitsipas is a five-series specialist

After exactly 4:00, the Greek then converted his first match point in the close match (154:151 total points for Tsitsipas). A minimal change helped him in the fifth set.

“I let my arm and wrist go a bit more on the serve, which helped me a lot to get even more power and precision,” he revealed in the winner’s interview: “This little tweak completely changed my approach and I was good at serving. I’m glad I discovered that.

For Tsitsipas, it was his 15th match in five sets in the 22nd Grand Slam appearance – he won nine of them. In 13 major appearances so far, Sinner has now played the full distance nine times – it was his fifth defeat in five sets.

Sinner expands the Black Series

In addition, a black streak continued: In the Grand Slam, the South Tyrolean never managed to win against a player from the world’s top five (0: 5), in the ATP tournaments in total, his record against the best in the world is 1:16.

“It makes you think that such a good player is losing to the front. He must be wondering: what am I missing in those important little moments?” Eurosport-Expert Barbara Rittner.

Breakballs (4/26) were the sticking point against Tsitsipas. “He needs to be a bit more determined and sure of himself and contain those slight errors. He lacks consistency at the top level,” Rittner said.

Tsitsipas now against favorite killer Lehecka

The Australian Open is one of the Greek’s favorite tournaments: in 2019, 2021 and 2022 he was in the semi-finals in Melbourne.

Last year, he gently beat Sinner in the quarter-finals on the way. In the direct duels against South Tyrol, it is now 5-1 for Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas could become number one

“He always comes out incredibly fresh and good in Melbourne,” Rittner said: “He likes to absorb that energy from the spectators and pick up the momentum with it. I think after Rafael Nadal’s departure he’s one of the favorites – but the big favorite is and will be Novak Djokovic as long as the injured thigh lasts.”

If Tsitsipas won the Australian Open, he would take the top spot in the world rankings. With a final entry, he would be at least second in the world rankings for the first time.

Sinner was in the round of 16 at the Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne for the sixth consecutive time. However, the South Tyrolean has never made it past the quarter-finals in a major (four appearances).

Men’s results on Sunday:

• K. Khachanov (—/18) – Y. Nishioka (JPN/31) 6:0, 6:0, 7:6 (7:4)
• S. Korda (USA/29) – H. Hurkacz (POL/10) 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 2, 1: 6, 7: 6 (10: 7)
• J. Lehecka (CZE) – F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN/6) 4: 6, 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 2), 7: 6 (7: 3)
• S. Tsitsipas (GRE/3) – J. Sinner (ITA/15) 6: 4, 6: 4, 3: 6, 4: 6, 6: 3

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