The draining impact that an absorbing five-setter can have was clear to see as Stefanos Tsitsipas battled through his on-court interview after outlasting Taylor Fritz in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Greek world No.4 Tsitsipas lost the first and third sets of the Rod Laver Arena match, but he clawed back to triumph 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4 in three hours and 23 minutes.
Former Australian tennis professional Sam Groth then prompted Tsitsipas in his on-court chat about “flying under the radar this year”.
But Tsitsipas was visibly rattled as he attempted to give an answer.
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“I haven’t been thinking anything,” Tsitsipas said with a laugh, the crowd chuckling.
“I have been concentrating on doing my job. The rest, media, whatever attention I should be getting, I haven’t really paid off,” Tsitsipas added as he jumbled his words.
“I haven’t really paid attention to that! Sorry, not ‘paid off’. Sorry, I’m very tired; I can barely speak right now. My mind is still in the match.”
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Tsitsipas’ victory over Fritz set up a quarter-final duel with American world No.10 Jannik Sinner, who had beaten Australian Alex de Minaur earlier in the night.
Tsitsipas is now set to compete in a singles grand slam quarter-final for the fifth time.
“Right now I’m focused on getting good recovery, getting in an ice bath, getting a good day off … and getting back on court,” Tsitsipas said.
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