Australian Open: Tsitsipas Grand Slam hope alive after hard-fought victory over Thompson

MELBOURNE — In a captivating clash at Margaret Court Arena, Stefanos Tsitsipas faced the relentless challenge of Jordan Thompson and a fervent home crowd during his second-round bout at the Australian Open. The 2023 finalist exhibited remarkable resilience, battling through a rollercoaster of emotions and momentum shifts to secure a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, 7-6(4) victory that kept his Grand Slam aspirations alive.

The high-energy, all-court tennis of Thompson had Tsitsipas on the brink in the opening sets, but the Greek maestro refused to yield.

Reflecting on the intense encounter, Tsitsipas expressed the exhilaration of the moment: “The adrenaline and the rush that I got out of this match was insane tonight. You live for these kinds of matches.”

Saving four set points at 5-6 in the fourth set showcased Tsitsipas’ mental fortitude, as he navigated through the challenges posed by his Australian opponent.

The pivotal turning point came in a tense second set, where Thompson had a 6/3 lead in the tie-break but faltered on three set points. Tsitsipas capitalized on this opportunity, clinching the set and setting the stage for his eventual triumph.

The 25-year-old’s serving prowess proved instrumental throughout the match, with Tsitsipas saving nine of 11 break points and maintaining an impressive 75 percent success rate behind his first serve. Despite facing adversity and Thompson’s spirited fightback, Tsitsipas showcased composure and skill, closing out the match in three hours and 36 minutes.

Looking ahead, Tsitsipas will face NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche in the third round, following Van Assche’s upset victory over 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti. The young French talent secured a thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0 win, setting the stage for an intriguing clash against the Greek star in Melbourne.

Australian Open: Djokovic propels over Popyrin to enter third round

MELBOURNE — In a roller coaster of a match, Novak Djokovic, a 10-time champion on Wednesday showcased his resilience, holding off home favourite, Alexei Popyrin with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory in the second round of Australian Open 2924, here at the the Rod Laver Arena.

The 36-year-old Serbian maestro, grappling with a wrist issue, found himself in peril mid-match, teetering on the edge at 4-5 in the third set.

However, in a testament to his championship mentality, Djokovic conjured magic, saving four set points from 0/40 and seizing control of the match. As he navigated through the challenges, Djokovic extended his remarkable Australian Open winning streak to an impressive 30 matches.

The pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title remained firmly within his grasp, but it wasn’t just history on the line. The coveted No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings hung in the balance, with young guns Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev eager to dethrone the Serbian titan.

With the clock ticking past three hours and eleven minutes, Djokovic’s journey at Melbourne Park took another intriguing turn. His next adversary, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, emerged victorious in a straight-sets triumph against Gael Monfils.

The 30th-seeded Argentine set the stage for a showdown against the World No. 1, who holds a 2-0 lead in their Lexus ATP head-to-head series, triumphing in ATP Masters 1000 events in Rome and Paris in 2023.

The narrative of Djokovic’s quest for tennis supremacy in Melbourne continued to captivate fans worldwide. As the spotlight intensified, the Serbian stalwart remained unfazed, ready to script another chapter in his storied career on the hallowed courts of the Australian Open.

Also read: Australian Open: Alcaraz beats Gasquet; Fils, Michelsen earn debut wins