Tsitsipas’ impossible shot to break his rival’s serve and advance to the second day of the Australian Open

Just fifteen days have passed since 2024, but it is likely that the ATP circuit already has the candidate for the best play of the year. The protagonist was the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipasnumber 7 in the ranking, which went from lowest to highest to surpass its debut in Australian Open against the Belgian Zizou Bergswho was left speechless by what happened in the second set of the match played this Monday, on the second day of the first Grand Slam of the season.

Tsitsipas went defensive on Bergs’ serve, who advanced over the net and volleyed past the Greek’s attempted pass. The ball came out with a lot of effect and, when it hit Tsitsipas’ side, it returned towards the Belgian’s court, but with a phenomenal reaction, the Greek stretched out, hit it and, balancing himself so as not to touch the net, started to celebrate a point that blew the audience away.

Bergs, for example, was speechless at Tsitsipas’ execution, he put his hand on his face without being able to understand what had happened, because even with that point he suffered a break in service and it was a key moment in the match. , which the Greeks ended up winning 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2.

In any case, it was not a pleasant start for Tsitsipas, who “in the first set had one of the lowest first serve percentages of his career”, as he himself stated in the post-match interview.

“It was unexpected. Things like this are dangerous, when you prepare for one type of opponent and then face another. It wasn’t easy. The determination and brilliance of the second set helped me turn the situation around.”the Greek commented regarding the change of rival he had after the Italian Matteo Berrettini He will withdraw from the competition on Sunday due to an ankle problem.

The current finalist, who lost only once in the first round in Melbourne (2018 against Denis Shapovalov), will face the winner of the home duel between Jordan Thompson and Aleksandar Vukic in the next round.

The other candidate who passed his premiere in Melbourne without brilliance was the Russian Daniel Medvedev3 on the scale. “When I started to suffer physically, he started to have cramps. The conditions were brutal”commented the Russian.

His French rival Terence Atmanec, fresh from qualifying, managed to hit the key to upset the tactical plan of the rest of the Muscovite, positioned far behind the baseline, relying several times on the classic open left-handed serve. which forced the Russian to readjust his position.

However, his shine faded as his inexperience in these types of scenarios didn’t help him when it came to managing the situation with extreme conditions like this Monday.

His movements worsened and Medvedev punished him until the patience of a Frenchman who decided to throw in the towel due to his precarious physical condition ran out. He was with scores of 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0 and abandoned the victory of Medvedev, who awaits the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori or the American guest Patrick Kypsonand the Russian will have the opportunity to match last edition’s score.

Badosa also celebrated and Osaka said goodbye

It was a happy day for one of the couples on the professional tennis circuit. Because to Tsitsipas’ triumph was added that of his Spanish girlfriend Paola Badosawho after 194 days and a 2023 to forget due to injuries, celebrated his debut at the Australian Open.

“My head wonders if I’ll ever be 100%. It’s special to win again, it’s the best feeling in the world.”Badosa reflected after beating Taylor Townsend 6-1, 6-3.

Six months after giving birth to her Japanese daughter Shai Naomi Osaka She returned to the Grand Slam losing to Caroline Garcia (19th). The former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam winner – twice in Australia – returned to the circuit in 2024 in Brisbane, losing in the second round to Karolina Pliskova.

This Monday he gave up serve on one occasion, which was well exploited by Garcia to win 6-4 and 7-6 (2). “I think it was a good match for me, I think I gave it my all, it was nice to be back at Rod Laver Arena”said the 26-year-old Japanese woman.

World number four and winner of her first major title at the 2023 US Open, Coco Gauff started by spending as little time on the court as possible. She had exactly one hour to get her ticket against the Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (68th), 6-3 and 6-0.

“I freed myself and everything fell into place. I’m always a little nervous in the first rounds of the Slam, I’m happy to have managed my emotions”said the American player who will turn 20 in March and who has won the last eight games of the match.