Defending semifinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out of the Australian Open 2020 with a straight-sets defeat 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(7-2) to Milos Raonic in the third round.
However, where did the Greek fell short of Raonic despite committing 14 unforced errors to Raonic’s 32?
The Canadian serving machine blasted 19 aces, winning 88 percent of his first-serve points, which didn’t allow a single breakpoint opportunity to Tsitsipas. The Greek gun could not earn a single breakpoint opportunity in the match as he admitted of having no answer to Raonic’s serve. The 21-year-old revealed that it’s quite difficult to play while he is playing forehands from all over the court. The 2019 ATP Finals champion explained that he didn’t really know where to should stand exactly, because he was just so fast and just turning around, hitting those forehands. “You get punched in the face by a shot all the time. In this case, the serve. You can’t do anything”, Tsitsipas said in the post-match press conference. “Kind of reminds me of a match I had with Kyrgios a few weeks ago in Brisbane. Not much going on from the baseline, mostly serves. Serve is great, one of the best in the game. I felt a bit stupid returning his serves. I felt like I was slow. My anticipation was not there,” he concluded.
Kvitova :
“Soccer match atmosphere’’ against Sakkari
Petra Kvitova compared the atmosphere created by Greek Maria Sakkari’s supporters on Rod Laver Arena to “a soccer match” but cut through the noise and battled back from a set down to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.
After Sakkari rode that boisterous support to a first set tiebreak win, Czech seventh seed Kvitova came firing back to clinch a quarter-final place with the 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2 victory.
“When I was shaking the hand with the umpire, I told him it was like a soccer match today,” Kvitova told reporters of the atmosphere on the main showcourt. Sakkari, 24, had never been in the fourth round of a Grand Slam before but had won the last two of her three previous matches against Kvitova, all of which were played last year.
Nick Kyrgios ‘shattered’ to lose but appreciates ‘champion’ Rafael Nadal
Nick Kyrgios conceded he was “shattered” to have a lost his tense fourth-round match against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, but spoke of his appreciation for the world number one.
Amid an apparent softening of relations between the two rivals, Nadal praised Kyrgios in his on-court interview after winning a close encounter 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) in three hours and 38 minutes.
Having overcome a worthy opponent, Nadal said the 24-year-old could contend at any tournament if he maintains his level of performance.
The scoreline was the same as when he beat Kyrgios at Wimbledon last year, but the Australian felt he was much closer to securing an upset victory this time.
“I mean, I appreciate it,” Kyrgios said when he was asked about Nadal’s comments.
“I’ve known that for the last four years but the trouble for me is being able to actually just produce the same attitude over and over again. Hopefully I can keep doing it. I’m just taking it day by day, trying to be positive, just bring positive vibes.
