Australian Open: Tsitsipas holds off Kokkinakis to win Greek epic

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Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his five-set win. (Australian Open Twitter)
Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his five-set win. (Australian Open Twitter)

Melbourne - Tsitsipas will meet Sweden's Mikael Ymer for a place in the fourth round

By Reuters

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Published: Thu 11 Feb 2021, 1:16 PM

Last updated: Thu 11 Feb 2021, 1:28 PM

A Greek tragedy threatened to befall Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open on Thursday before the fifth seed steadied to fend off local wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 6-1 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 and reach the third round.

The day after Nick Kyrgios sent John Cain Arena into delirium with a thrilling comeback, 267th-ranked Greek-Australian Kokkinakis appeared set for the boilover of the tournament when he threaded a backhand down the line to send the match into a fifth at Rod Laver Arena.


It was not to be, though, as Tsitsipas captured the decisive break in the fifth game and held on grimly to close out a four-hour 32-minute epic.

Tsitsipas will meet Sweden’s Mikael Ymer for a place in the fourth round.



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