Stefanos Tsitsipas shares memories of him watching Nadal and Federer as kids

Stefanos Tsitsipas shares memories of him watching Nadal and Federer as kids

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Greek World No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas saw his dominant nine-match winning streak on clay courts come to an end in the hands of Rafael Nadal in the final of the Barcelona Open 2021. The Spaniard lifted his 12th title in Barcelona, and his first of the season. He also avenged his loss from the Australian Open 2021, where the Greek defeated him in a five set marathon.

Tsitsipas came close to winning the title in the third set, when he had a match point. He later said that he has just ‘2 cm’ away from defeating Nadal on Clay. However, Rafael Nadal is known for his fighting abilities. The 34 year old held his composure, and broke the Greek in the penultimate game of the match to take the lead 6-5.

The Greek star lifted his first Masters title a few days back, after he won the Monte Carlo Masters. The Greek is just 22 years old and has reached three Grandslam semifinals, and is projected as the next big thing.

‘I was little, just asking for an autograph to these players, now I face them’: Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas recently revealed that as a kid, he used to see Nadal and Federer play in front of a huge crowd. And he went on asking for autographs to these players.

He said: “As a kid I was watching two giants like Federer and Nadal competing in front of thousands of people. I was little, just asking for an autograph to these players. Now I face them.”

Next up for the Greek, is the Madrid Masters, followed by the Italian Open. The Greek did well at the French Open last year, where he reached the semifinals, losing to Novak Djokovic in a five set thriller.

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Also read: Fabio Fognini threatens to sue ATP after defaulting at Barcelona Open 2021