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2021 Australian Open Tennis, 4th Quarter-Final Men’s Singles Game: Stefanos Tsitsipas v Rafa Nadal

by Sports Benches

Both Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal fired off with a couple of first points on the board. They tied 2-2 apiece. As they are looking for different strategies that would help win the 1st stage. This is the 4th & final Quarter Final Game at Rod Laver Arena. With the winner will get to face Daniil Medvedev from Russia for the 2nd semi-final on Friday.

Tsitsipas however began to lose some ground in his 2nd half run of this opening stage. With two points lost against Nadal after the halfway point. Before Nadal clinched the mini win 6-3. As Tsitsipas needs to combine that 1st & 2nd half play consistently. If he wants to catch up with Nadal and win Stage 2 to tie the overall lead 1-1.

Nadal continues his strong Stage 1 with an easy headstart 2-0 v Tsitsipas. Before the Spaniard was able to bridge a dominant 2nd half run. When he pulled off a big lead with the Stage 2 win 6-2 ahead of the 3rd stage. For Tsitsipas he continued to struggle on all fronts to catch up his opponent. The only progress Tsitsipas made was holding him back during the deuces. But not enough with the finishing. Despite the late point grabbed against Nadal 2-5. 

Tsitsipas will desperately need a Stage 3 win to keep his semi-finals berth alive. And come back out of nowhere with at least another two stage wins. This is the only route he has to take now. As it is one hour & 21 minutes into the game so far tonight. With 2-0 down in the overall lead. The 4th seed from Greece had a headstart this time.

As well as the build up base in this crucial stage where Tsitsipas touched the halfway line 1st 3-2. Having won a series of duels v Nadal. Including the deuces in which it was not easy. Tsitsipas desperately scrambled to save the game by going into Stage 4. 

There is 2nd half progress at least from the Greek 5-4 ahead of Nadal. But Nadal held him back to deny Tsitsipas a Stage 3 win at the first attempt 6-6. As the Spaniard brought this into mini overtime.Tsitsipas fortunately able to close out Rafa Nadal in the end for the Stage 3 win on overtime 7-6. This game is not over just yet. It is still Nadal who has the overall lead 2-1. With Tsitsipas now needs two more Stage wins to overtime him & stage a huge comeback.

The start of Stage 4 looked very competitive with Tsitsipas and Nadal battling side by side for the lead. Nadal still needs one more Stage win to book a semis spot. Despite fallen so short behind the Greek on the mini overtime during Stage 3. The Spaniard had the first opportunity to flip towards a great 2nd half run. After Nadal touched the halfway point first 3-2. Desperately needed to close out Tsitsipas once more as it was in the first two stages to wrap it up.

Tsitsipas did not give up without a fight when he began to close in on Nadal 4-4. Having snatched this lead 5-4 when Nadal unable to overcome a few duels with the advantage. Before the 4th seed from Greece tied Nadal with the overall lead. As he wins Stage 4 6-4. It all comes down to the 5th & final stage. Where one of them will have to cross this victory line first. Both big rewards up for grabs.

It has gone right to the wire with Nadal upfront ahead of Tsitsipas earlier on. The game has already crossed the 3 1/2 hours mark when the 4th seed from Greek tied 2-2. Before Nadal began to regain the executed feel that was sorely missed in Stages 3 & 4. When he was one point away from winning Stage 5 & overall win 5-4. But Tsitsipas took advantage of Nadal’s missed conversions 5-5. In the end Tsitsipas emerged from 0-2 after Stage 2. And came back the hard way to upsurp Rafa Nadal with three straight wins. Which means he is in the semi-final now v Daniil Medvedev. The final score was done in 4 hours & 5 minutes: 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4 tie), 6-4 & 7-5.

What a comeback from Stefanos Tsitsipas. He did not have the best first two sets. Where his 1st run feel only worked alone. But began to have his executions up to speed from the 3rd set. And able to match his foundations Tsitsipas wanted to build. Where he just closed out Rafa via tiebreaker to keep himself in the game. Before he repeated the same thing again and again. Even though it is not an easy battle against such an opponent who won grand slams before. And that became the No.1 strength as to why win harder is stronger & better.

And on Rafa oh so close where he was buggered not to make it into the semis. Dominated a very easy 1st half of the match against Tsitsipas with two sets in the bag. Looked like the game would end under his watch within two hours. Rafa unfortunately did not make up these missed changes. When he began to falter with the executions. Before it was too late to fix by the time Tsitsipas emerged out from almost eliminated to eventual winner. Not just his night tonight. But best of luck as Rafa still has class to prove.

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Tennis Australia News, 2021 Australian Open Section 7 of R2 Singles Game: Stefanos Tsitsipas v Thanasi Kokkinakis

by Sports Benches

Stefanos Tsitsipas & Thanasi Kokkanakis fired off side by side. Both players picked up a few early points. Having reached the initial halfway point. When Tsitspas just ahead of Kokkanakis 3-2 in Stage 1.

But Kokkanakis still catches up to the World No.5 from Greece. When Tsitsipas almost got the opening stage win after the 5-4 lead. Before the Australian blocked his possible set point path. Even it means a few successful attempts. As Kokkanakis led to a lifetime with the tiebreaker 6-6.

Where Kokkanakis came back from a near loss at 5-6 to a Stage 1 win 7-6. He wrapped up Tsitsipas in the tiebreaker 7-5 for the 1st set lead unscathed. Having dueled each other for the whole time so far in this game. As we roll onto Stage 2.

The close duel between Tsitsipas & Kokkanakis rolls on having shared 2-2. But Tsitsipas bounced back this time with some progress within the halfway mark. After he passed Kokkanakis for the lead 3-2. Before the World No.5 found his way to deny him a second set win after Stage 2 6-4. While Kokkanakis just went loose in the 2nd half run When he was unable to stop Tsitsipas late in this set.

Unlike the first two stages Tsitsipas proved tip top to make up these conversions easily. Where the comfortable build up base was there to move himself away from Kokkanakis 3-1. Before the Greek did not have problems bridging his 2nd half run. As Tsitsipas proved too easy to outmuscle Kokkinakis for the Stage 3 win 6-1. And with two set wins now Tsitsipas is one stage away from winning this game.

Despite an easy third stage loss Kokkinakis began to re-gain some feel. Where he was able to stay on par with Tsitsipas this time rather than from Stage 3. He was almost a point away from being eliminated from this game at the first attempt. Before Kokkanakis got that 2nd half run ticking at 6-6 going into the tiebreaker. It was a great start from the Aussie to transfer that brilliant Stage 3 form with a big lead 5-1. He was faltering at one point where Tsitsipas began to make up his lost time. But Kokkinankis just closed him down on time with the tiebreaker win 7-5. Despite a few close duels mightly in the deuces section. As he added two stage wins tied with the World No.5 at 7-6 in the 4th set going into the 5th & final stage.

This game crossed past the four-hour mark with another fire off battle between the two players. Where they first tied up 2-2. But Tsitsipas took the lead by gaining two to three more points. While Thanasi Kokkinakis desperately scrambled to save his campaign into the third round. Having faltered again & again. And whoever wins this game will meet Mikael Ymer from Sweden. Kokkinakis did the best he can to close in the 5th seed from Greece. Unfortunately it was too little, too late to save his journey. As Stefanos Tsitsipas able to bridge his 2nd half run in the end. Where he narrowly shut down Kokkinakis for the 5th stage & overall win. In which Tsitsipas earned three stage wins compared to two from Kokkinakis. So Tsitsipas will now meet Ymer in the third round. The final score lasted 4 & 1/2 hours is 6-7 (5-7 tiebreaker), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7 tiebreaker) & 6-4.

What an late afternoon game of tennis!! Even it went for a very long time gone past dinner time. Commiserations for Kokkinakis who fired off with the early. Having to duel so close for these valuable points v Tsitsipas. He might have almost lost the game at the first time of asking after the Stage 3 loss. Came back to keep himself in contention after the 4th set tiebreaker. But just feel short when Kokkinakis faltered & eventually ran out of ideas in the end. But Kokkinankis overcame a string of injuries. As well as grandular fever that forced him to sit out of the Aus Open last year. Despite the loss he will come back as a better player as long as he is still fit to play.

While Tsitsipas may have started off slow and steady. And was able to catch up. Despite the narrow loss in the 1st & 4th set. But Tsitsipas kept going with aiming to fire on all cylinders. Having won the 2nd & 3rd set. He almost won at the first attempt of asking before Kokkinankis denied this. Where Kokkinakis turned it into a tiebreaker ahead of the 5th set. Tsitsipas in the end took advantage of the fatigue from Kokkinakis. And finally found a route to get himself out of this situation to come out of top at Rod Laver Arena.

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Tennis Australia News, 2021 Australian Open Section 8 of R1 Game Report: Stefanos Tsitspas v Gilles Simon

by Sports Benches

Stefanos Tsitspas fired off to a flying start at Rod Laver Arena. With a comfortable build up base to get past Gilles Simon by the halfway mark. Before the World No.5 from Greece won stage one 6-1. Not hard from Tsitspas to get this done in 25 mins.

While Simon was blown away what the Greek demonstrated earlier on. When the Frenchman struggled mightily with the feel needed. Having unable to catch up with Tsitspas. He only just registered one point against Tsitspas when he first led 5-0.

Simon eventually began to find some ground after the break. So the foundations are there at last from the Frenchman. But still lacks the consistency at large. As Tsitspas again pulled off a big lead with another set win 6-2. Having executed on both ways in just within 60 minutes/one hour. Despite Simon won another late point in Stage 2 after 1-4.

And Tsitspas in the end demonstrated a fantastic performance. Where he has the tools to wrap up a productive game at all times. As the World No.5 makes it to Round 2 of the 2021 Australian Open. The final score is 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. His next opponent will be Thanasi Kokkinakis. He may the Greek heritage through his family bloodline. But Kokkinakis is Australian.

So Tsitspas able to blow out Simon left, right & center. He always found a way to find the middle ground. And extend his lead on each set. Where Simon is on the contrary. Then the Frenchman left little time to bounce back. Despite some small improvements as it progresses. But Simon at large stuck in first/second gear. In a way to put pressure back on Tsitspas. He is age 36 though. As Simon is within the twilight zone before the retirement door.

Day 2 of Australian Open Tennis is now completed. Especially with Australian & Women’s World No.1 Ash Barty got it too easy. When she beat fair and square against Danka Kovincic from Montenegro 6-0, 6-0. Her next opponent is Daria Gavrilova who originally comes from Russia. But now is a naturalised Aussie living in Melbourne. We cannot wait for an thrilling Day 3 dose of Grand Slam Tennis.

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