Stefanos Tsitsipas roars back to beat Taylor Fritz in Australian Open epic

Seven weeks before the Australian Open began, as most tennis players were figuring out how they would tackle the off-season to come, Stefanos Tsitsipas had a different predicament. After years of pain management and a bitter withdrawal from the 2021 ATP Finals, he had undergone surgery on his right elbow to alleviate his problems for good. As he lay in his hospital bed on 23 November, Tsitsipas faced a race to be ready in time for a new season.

On Monday night, before a thunderous crowd filled to its 50% capacity with members of Melbourne’s Greek community, Tsitsipas, the fourth seed, recovered from two sets to one down against one of the tour’s in-form players, defeating American Taylor Fritz 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. Tsitsipas will next face the 11th seed, Jannik Sinner, who was an efficient 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4 winner over Alex de Minaur.

“An epic match, that’s what I can say,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I gave everything out on the court today. I’m very proud of myself, the way I fought, the way I stayed consistent in the moments that were very close and crucial. I’m overwhelmed. Just too much. The stadium was on fire. It’s too good to be true.”

Fritz, the 20th seed, has recently been in the form of his life. He does not have the athleticism of some of his peers, but he is blessed with a fast arm, a big serve and he is technically solid off both wings. He used those weapons and his confidence seamlessly, dominating his service games and generating 13 break points on the Tsitsipas serve.

While Tsitsipas was not his direct, attacking best, he dug in; he fought desperately for every last point and he used every inch of big match experience he has accrued in his young career. Such was his