Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals 2 ‘perfect’ matches he played against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal after breezing into Indian Wells 4th round

Stefanos Tsitsipas registered a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 victory over Matteo Berrettini in the Indian Wells third round.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals 2 ‘perfect’ matches he played against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal after breezing into Indian Wells 4th round

Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Roger Federer (Image via X)

Stefanos Tsitsipas entered Indian Wells on the back of a successful campaign in the Dubai Open. He ended his trophy drought and clinched the title with a straight-set win over Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Tsitsipas then kickstarted his Sunshines Doubles campaign by breezing past Thiago Seyboth Wild after which, he sent Matteo Berrettini packing. Following his win, he was asked in the press conference to talk about the matches where he played perfect tennis.

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It’s an interesting one because I’ve had a bad start against Rafael Nadal at the quarterfinals of the Australian Open [in 2021]. It was not great. I remember thinking to myself, I’m not playing well. I lost the first two sets, and I think something just clicked.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said

Tsitsipas had come from two sets down to beat the 22-time Grand Slam champion 3-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-5. The next perfect match he chose was his 2019 Australian Open fourth-round win over Roger Federer 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6. It was his first Grand Slam match against the Swiss maestro which “wasn’t easy to deal with“.

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But I was determined when I entered the court. I’m like, I’m not leaving unless there’s something to learn from this experience, and I really want to go all the way in that match. I’m not going to let him win just because he’s Roger Federer, and I managed to win that match.

Stefanos Tsitsipas added

Both Federer and Nadal have called time on their careers. Federer hung up his racket in the 2022 Laver Cup, while Nadal retired at the 2024 Davis Cup.

Stefanos Tsitsipas to lock horns with Holger Rune

Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ Indian Wells fourth-round opponent is Holger Rune who survived a scare against Ugo Humbert. Tsitsipas has met the Dane thrice on the ATP tour but lost all those matches.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (3)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via X)

They clashed with each other for the first time in the 2022 French Open fourth round, followed by their encounter in the 2022 Stockholm final, then followed by another matchup during the group stage of the 2023 ATP Finals. In their last meeting, Tsitsipas gave a walkover to Rune.

Tsitsipas is a quarterfinalist in the California desert. He made his debut in 2018 and reached the last eight stage in 2021. Last year, the 26-year-old was defeated in the fourth round by Jiri Lehecka.

Rune, on the other hand, made his Indian Wells debut in 2021. The 21-year-old produced his best performance in the ATP Masters 1000 event last year as he reached the quarterfinals and lost to Daniil Medvedev. Unlike the two-time Grand Slam finalist, Rune is yet to win his first title of the 2025 season.