My idol is my rival now, says Tsitsipas

MELBOURNE, January 20 

Having toppled 20-times Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday, an overwhelmed Stefanos Tsitsipas felt thrilled to have turned his idol into a “rival”. The shaggy-haired 20-year-old's 6-7(11) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(5) triumph at Rod Laver Arena made him the first Greek to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam while condemning Federer to his earliest exit from Melbourne Park in four years.

John McEnroe told the terraces they had just witnessed “a changing of the guard”, and the reigning NextGen ATP champion also felt the weight of the moment after sealing match point in front of a heaving crowd.

“It was a very emotional moment. It was something — a beginning of something really big. I felt joy. I felt happiness. I felt a huge relief going out of my shoulders,” said Tsitsipas. “That moment is definitely something that I will never, ever, ever forget. This match point is going to stay, I'm pretty much sure, forever, for the rest of my life. 

“I just managed to close that match and stay strong, beat my idol. My idol today became pretty much my rival.” 

Melbourne's large Greek community came out in force at Melbourne Park and belted out songs of support at the Grand Slam Garden adjacent to the stadium. Tsitsipas will hope to reward their support by blazing a trail to the semifinals and maybe beyond if he can beat Spain's 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut in his next match. — Reuters 

Day 7: results

Round 4

Men: Frances Tiafoe (USA) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x20) 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (1/7), 7-5 Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x22) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x6) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x14) bt Roger Federer (SUI x3) 6-7 (11/13), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) 

Women: Petra Kvitova (CZE x8) bt Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-2, 6-1 Ashleigh Barty (AUS x15) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x30) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Danielle Collins (USA) bt Angelique Kerber (GER x2) 6-0, 6-2 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Sloane Stephens (USA x5) 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-3.