Day 7 of Australian Open 2019, and the round of sixteen. First match in the night session on Rod Laver Arena was:
Stefanos Tsitsipas (14) (GRE) v Roger Federer (3) (SUI)
Tsitsipas served first. At 30-0, Federer hit two backhand winners and achieved a break point. Two Swiss forehand errors and game point. Deuce after a Greek backhand error. Double fault and break point. Saved. Eventually serve held, a forehand winner helping. 1-0.
Federer held serve, finishing with two winners. 1-1.
Tsitsipas lost just one point in moving to 2-1, including an ace.
A love game for Federer, ended with a forehand winner 2-2. A neat drop shot finalised a Tsitsipas love game 3-2. Federer survived deuce. 3-3.
Another Greek love game 4-3 Tsitsipas.
4-4 with a couple of Federer forehand winners. 5-4 to Tsitsipas following his third straight love game, concentrating on the Federer forehand. 5-5 after some good rallies. Tsitsipas forced three backhand errors, before a backhand volley sent him to 6-5.
Easy hold for Federer and tie break.
Federer expert at winning these.
Two points against the serve and 2-2. 4-4 with one Greek serve to come. Federer won that point and took a 5-4 lead. Two serves to come.
A wild Swiss forehand and 5-5. Service winner and set point on the Tsitsipas serve. Volley saved it. 6-6. Federer mishit and set point to Tsitsipas. Saved. 7-7. 8-7 Federer and his second set point. Also saved. 8-8.
9-8 to Tsitsipas and his second set point was saved. 9-9. Drop shot from Federer and third set point. Saved. 10-10. 11-10 and third set point for Tsitsipas. Saved. 12-11 and set point Federer.
Set to Federer after Tsitsipas hit wide. 7-6(11)
Tsitsipas with four backhand errors to start set two and Federer held serve to love 1-0. Three aces and a backhand winner from Tsitsipas 1-1.
A Federer ace finished game three for 2-1.
3-2 Federer after two dominant holds.
Break point facing Tsitsipas after a Federer backhand pass. Saved with a Federer failed forehand. Another break point after a poor Greek backhand. Saved following Federer hitting the net. Volley put away and game point. Forehand sprayed by Tsitsipas and deuce. Netted Greek backhand and break chance. Saved with sharp volley. Service winner and game point. Backhand down the line and serve held 3-3.
Federer held to love, two aces finishing it off. 4-3.
Down 0-30, Tsitsipas fought back to game point with good serving, but wasted it, and another. A third game point also vanished, but fine net play created a fourth. A lucky Federer net cord and deuce. Break point saved after Federer mishit. Game point number six and finally serve held. 4-4.
Love game for Federer and 5-4.
Tsitsipas saved four set points before holding for 5-5.
Two Federer forehands set up another service hold and he led 6-5, putting more pressure on Tsitsipas to hold serve and enter a second tie break.
Finally an easy hold for Tsitsipas, and the love game did mean a tie break was required.
Two aces and Tsitsipas led 3-0. A Federer backhand winner on the Greek serve levelled things at 3-3. From there it was all Tsitsipas.
A Greek forehand winner in between two Swiss unforced errors created three set points. Just one needed when Tsitsipas delivered a forehand winner to take the set 7-6(3) and level the match.
Tsitsipas held in game one of set three 1-0. Federer also comfortable on serve. 1-1. A forehand winner ended game three and Tsitsipas led 2-1.
Federer was taken to deuce but two winners settled things and he levelled at 2-2. Winners for both but backhand errors cost Federer, and an ace sealed the game for Tsitsipas. 3-2.
Federer volleyed well to end the game and hold for 3-3.
Two break points for Federer after a backhand winner. Both saved. Two game points also disappeared before a third was converted with a failed Federer forehand. 4-3 Tsitsipas.
Two break points were saved by Federer and he held for 4-4. Tsitsipas lost only one point on the way to 5-4, an ace the finishing touch. Federer to serve and stay in the set. A love game and 5-5.
A quartet of Federer forehand mistakes and Tsitsipas held for 6-5.
Two unforced forehand errors from Federer and two set points. Another of those and Tsitsipas took the set 7-5 and led two sets to one.
Federer’s title defence was under serious threat.
Set four began with three Greek aces in a love game and Tsitsipas led 1-0. The following two games were held with little drama. 2-1 Tsitsipas.
Federer survived deuce to level at 2-2. 3-2 Tsitsipas, and still no break points. A Swiss love game and 3-3. Tsitsipas, with two aces, went ahead 4-3.
4-4, a Federer forehand winner sealing the game. In a game where Federer hit the only winner, Tsitsipas forced enough errors to hold and lead 5-4. A quick hold for Federer, and games were 5-5.
Even faster for Tsitsipas to lead 6-5 with a love game. Federer would need to win the set in a tie break.
And a tie break it would be after Federer held serve.
Tsitsipas began with an ace, and took a point of the Federer serve. Federer took one back, and from there points went to the server until 5-5. An unforced forehand error from Federer on his own serve gave a match point to Tsitsipas. The Greek fifteenth seed forced a backhand error from Federer and the match was over.
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated the defending champion Roger Federer 6-7(11) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(5) to make his first Grand Slam tournament quarter final, where he will play Roberto Bautista Agut.
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