Stefanos Tsitsipas has added motivation because the third-seeded Greek crowd favorite and girls’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek headline the third-round motion on day 5 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Tsitsipas is the highest-ranked participant left within the males’s draw following the shock exits of top-seeded title holder Rafael Nadal and world No.3 Casper Ruud within the area of 24 hours.
The 24-year-old – a three-time Open semi-finalist and 2021 French Open runner-up to Novak Djokovic – takes on Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor for the primary time and has the benefit of taking part in on certainly one of his favorite courts.
“It’s always a pleasure playing on Rod Laver Arena,” Tsitsipas stated after his second-round win on Wednesday night time.
“I get some good memories here.”
Tsitsipas is so well-liked in Melbourne, which boasts a big Greek neighborhood, that he famously had a souvlaki named in his honour at one metropolis restaurant trying to money in on his annual journeys to town.
Now the world No.4 is equally desirous to feed off the fan assist in his ongoing drive for grand slam glory.
“Whenever I’m back here, it feels like home,” Tsitsipas stated.
“Maybe in the future, I’m seriously thinking of maybe getting a home here one day.”
Tsitsipas is however certainly one of a number of gamers searching for to profit from the untimely departures of Nadal and Ruud.
Runner-up the previous two years to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev is probably finest positioned to money in.
On Friday, thrilling American Sebastian Korda stands in between the Russian seventh seed and a spot within the final 16 as soon as once more.
With equally excessive hopes, precocious sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime takes on Argentine Francisco Cerundolo whereas his Canadian countryman Denis Shapovalov performs tenth seed Hubert Hurkacz.
American Francis Tiafoe and Russian Karen Khachanov, each seeded US Open semi-final losers final 12 months, additionally sq. off, little question with huge intentions.
Women’s favorite Swiatek is predicted to make gentle work of Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa, whereas highly-fancied American contenders Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are favoured to advance previous Marta Kostyuk and Bernarda Pera respectively.
But tenth seed Madison Keys could discover life more durable in opposition to two-time Open champion Victoria Azarenka as she goals to go one higher than final 12 months’s semi-final loss to retired reigning champion Ash Barty.
There’s no Australians in singles motion on Friday however reigning Wimbledon champion Max Purcell, with new accomplice Jordan Thompson, is amongst a number of locals taking part in doubles.
Purcell and Matt Ebden misplaced final 12 months’s Open males’s doubles closing to Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier than claiming the crown on the All England Club.
