If you were anything like me, you were skeptical that Stefanos Tsitsipas could defeat Roger Federer until Federer’s last backhand stroke found the net. Indeed, Tsitsipas led 2-1 in the first two games and 6-5 in the fourth set of the tiebreaker.
Indeed, for the preceding three hours and forty-four minutes, he had countered every Federer attack and saved all twelve break points.
However, we had witnessed Federer worm his way out of similar situations far too frequently in the past—most notably in the previous two Australian Open finals—for us to think he wouldn’t do it in the face of a 20-year-old opponent.
However, as we repeatedly discovered last night, this wasn’t your typical 20-year-old opponent.
What was it about Tsitsipas’s performance versus Federer that set him apart from the others? He adopted a few concepts from the Maestro’s guidebook and transformed them into something unique, like any budding artist should do.
We used to refer to Grigor Dimitrov as Baby Fed, but tonight Tsitsipas demonstrated the one aspect of Federer’s game that Dimitrov was unable to imitate: his instincts. Tsitsipas is the owner of them.
If you were anything like me, you were skeptical that Stefanos Tsitsipas could defeat Roger Federer until Federer’s last backhand stroke found the net.
Indeed, Tsitsipas led 2-1 in the first two games and 6-5 in the fourth set of the tiebreaker.
Indeed, for the preceding three hours and forty-four minutes, he had countered every Federer attack and saved all twelve break points.
However, we had witnessed Federer worm his way out of similar situations far too frequently in the past—most notably in the previous two Australian Open finals—for us to think he wouldn’t do it in the face of a 20-year-old opponent.
However, as we repeatedly discovered last night, this wasn’t your typical 20-year-old opponent.
What was it about Tsitsipas’s performance versus Federer that set him apart from the others? He adopted a few concepts from the Maestro’s guidebook and transformed them into something unique, like any budding artist should do.
We used to refer to Grigor Dimitrov as “Baby Fed,” but tonight Tsitsipas demonstrated the one aspect of Federer’s game that Dimitrov was unable to imitate: his instincts. Tsitsipas is the owner of them.
The commentators usually tell us throughout a Federer match how Federer is attempting to “figure out” the other player and all the ways he’s attempting to undermine him.
About his opponent, who is presumed to have little other choice but to stick to his somewhat narrow style, we usually don’t hear anything similar.
When Tsitsipas took a few steps back during a Federer second serve in the middle of the first set and attempted a high looping backhand, which was quite unlike from any return he had ever attempted before, I recognized that dynamic had been turned on its head. During this match, Tsitsipas was obviously going to do more than merely react.
Tsitsipas’s readiness to come to the net was the match’s most interesting aspect. In his post-match interview, John McEnroe commended him for preserving the all-court game, after he visited the location 68 times.
However, it was more important to consider how and when he rushed the net than how often he did so.
On several of the twelve break opportunities he saved, on one of his four set points in the second set, and on his lone match point, he forced the issue whenever he found himself in danger.
Similar to Federer, Tsitsipas utilized his forehand to build up his net forays as well as to go for clear winners. He carried on the more modern custom of forehand and volley, but he did not reinstate serve and volley.
Tsitsipas’s style of play has a classic interconnectedness that makes me think of both Roger Federer and the great Australian player Ken Rosewall; it’s all about positioning him for the next shot and pushing him ahead.
We now know that Tsitsipas, who is equally adept at holding his ground, dislikes backing up behind the baseline, just like Federer does.
The commentators usually tell us throughout a Federer match how Federer is attempting to figure out the other player and all the ways he’s attempting to undermine him.
