NEW DELHI: Stefanos Tsitsipas described the exhilarating adrenaline surge he experienced during an intense battle against local hopeful Jordan Thompson at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Despite last year's finalist initially grappling to find his rhythm in the spirited atmosphere of Margaret Court Arena, he eventually triumphed 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) after a demanding 3 hours and 36 minutes.
The hard-fought victory paved the way for a fourth-round encounter with France's Luca Van Assche. Tsitsipas' resilience and triumph in the face of adversity underscored his determination to make a significant impact in the ongoing tournament.
"The adrenaline and the rush I got out of this match tonight was insane," said the seventh seed, who lost to Novak Djokovic in last year's final.
"You live for these kinds of matches, the intensity was there today. We were both able to peak in terms of our tennis at some point during the match.
"The fact that I can go to sleep tonight and know I gave it all makes me extremely happy right now."
The 47th-ranked Jordan Thompson capitalized on a seventh-game break to secure an early advantage in the opening set against Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The second set unfolded as a tense battle with both players holding serve, culminating in a riveting tie-break that saw Tsitsipas overcoming three set points before clinching the set.
Energised by this turnaround, Tsitsipas dominated the third set, breaking Thompson twice to establish a commanding 4-0 lead and swiftly closing it out. Despite controlling the fourth set, Tsitsipas faced a nerve-wracking moment at 5-4, squandering two match points.
The electrifying 12th game, lasting over 13 minutes, saw Tsitsipas save four set points, forcing another tie-break where his serve ultimately secured victory amid the boisterous crowd's support.
(With AFP inputs)Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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