These two saved the best for last! @Taylor_Fritz97 breaks Stefanos Tsitsipas in a frantic, fantastic final game to take the match 7-6(3) 5-7 6-3 6-3. It's the American's first win over a top 10 player at a Grand Slam! #AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis
MATCH REPORT | 2024 Australian Open: Taylor FRITZ cruises past Stefanos TSITSIPAS, storms into quarter-finals
ATPSunday, 21 January 2024 at 07:23
Taylor Fritz (No. 12) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 7) with a score of 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, securing his spot in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Australian Open. The American showed greater composure in crucial points, leaving behind the 2023 finalist to set up a showdown with Novak Djokovic.
In his journey, Tsitsipas had to come from a set down in the early rounds against Zizou Bergs (No. 129) and Jordan Thompson (No. 47), before showcasing his best form in the third round against the 19-year-old Frenchman Luca van Assche (No. 79) and defeating him in straight sets.
As for Fritz, the time away from competitive play seemed to affect him, facing serious challenges to overcome world No. 96 Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round in five sets. However, he bounced back with an impressive victory over Hugo Gaston (No. 97), conceding only 4 games, and against the dangerous Fabian Maroszan (No. 67) in four sets.
In the first game of the match, Tsitsipas saved two early break points, and in the next game, Fritz did the same to keep the score level at 1-1. From then on, neither player showed doubts in their service games, progressing through the set without gaining an advantage over each other, and no new break opportunities emerged. The set extended to a tiebreak, where Fritz was relentless with his serve, capitalizing on two mini-breaks to take a 7-6(3) lead.
The second set followed a similar dynamic, with no break points played throughout. With the score at 6-5 in favor of Tsitsipas, Fritz made his first errors, allowing the Greek to secure the first break of the match and take the set 7-5.
The third set was the most contested, as Fritz recovered from the setback in the previous set and secured a break to lead 2-0. Tsitsipas quickly regained the break, leveling the score at 2-2. Fritz stood firm from the baseline, causing significant troubles for Tsitsipas in his return game, and secured the break in the sixth game, providing the decisive advantage to close the set 6-3.
Although Tsitsipas fought in the fourth set and stayed alive, Fritz showcased his best tennis and appeared superior to the Greek. With the score tied at 3-3, the first break opportunity for the American arrived, and he capitalized on it to take a 4-3 lead. Fritz seized the excellent moment he was experiencing, and after holding his serve, secured his second consecutive break to claim victory and advance to the quarterfinals of the AO with a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 score.
In the quarterfinals, he will face a formidable challenge against the 11-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has achieved 32 consecutive victories in the tournament and has not been defeated in the Rod Laver Arena since 2016.
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