Stefanos Tsitsipas : stayed calm just like Mr Rod Laver

• Greek third seed extends winning record to eight matches.
• Plays Czech 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka, who upset sixth seed Auger-Aliassime.
• He will compete Novak Djokovic in Melbourne.

Stefanos Tsitsipas drew courage from watching Rod Laver to maintain composure in the face of a barrage on Sunday and fight his way into a third straight quarterfinal at the Australian Open.

The Greek third seed extended his winning record to eight matches this year with a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Italian 15th seed Jannik Sinner on Rod Laver Arena in just over four hours.

With a win, one would go to the semifinals to play Jiri Lehecka, a 21-year-old who upset sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime by scores of 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), and 7-6 (7/3).

After being knocked out in the first round of all four majors last year, this upset propelled the Czech into the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time.

“I just stayed incredibly calm, like Mr Rod Laver used to do in his day,” Tsitsipas said as the crowd applauded and Australian icon Laver congratulated the Greek player from the stands.

“It was a long match; I felt like I spent a full century playing tennis on this court.

“What a fantastic evening. That was fantastic, a ripper as they say here. I’m thrilled to be able to share moments like this on the court, especially in Australia.

“I’m doing my best out here, but it’s not easy. Today’s opponent on the opposite side of the court was incredible “Tsitsipas, the highest surviving men’s seed, added.

Shoutout to Rod from Stef 😊@rodlaver • @steftsitsipas • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/uuE0e32Hv0

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2023

Tsitsipas, who lost to eventual runner-up Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 semifinals, is vying for both the top position and his first major championship.

If he wins for the tenth time in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, whom he cannot encounter until the final, will become the world’s top-ranked player.

Tsitsipas led Sinner 4-1 in their previous meetings, including a win in the Melbourne quarter-finals last year, but it proved to be a difficult test for the Greek.

He made his intentions clear by breaking Sinner in the first game thanks to an Italian baseline error.

Tsitsipas then saved four break opportunities in the next game to maintain his lead and go on to win the first set.

The Greek pounced for 5-4 with a blistering cross-court forehand in the second set, then served it out in 46 minutes to take control.

Sinner stormed back, and Tsitsipas saved six break points before surrendering to fall 3-1 behind and lose the set.

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