Stefanos Tsitsipas shocked six-time champion Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final of the ATP Finals in his tournament debut on Saturday. The Greek sixth seed, 17 years younger than his 38-year-old opponent, beat the Swiss at the Australian Open but had fallen to him twice since then.
Federer was unrecognisable from the player who dominated Novak Djokovic in his final round-robin match, struggling on serve and hitting a total of 26 unforced errors compared with just five against the Serbian.
But Tsitsipas belied his years with a performance full of confidence and grit, saving 11 out of 12 break points during the match. Coming into the match, the Greek 21-year-old led the tournament in service games won, with 35 out of 37.
Dominic Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev 7-5, 6-3 in the other semi-final and will now face Tsitsipas in the summit clash.
Twitter was mighty impressed by Tsitsipas’ performance on Saturday and marked him as a future Grand Slam winner.
Here are some reactions:
Assuming that he won't be very hurt, as some point, Stefanos Tsitsipas will win a Slam next year. Today in London, beats Roger Federer 63 64 at The O2. His forehand and his backhand are huge. Into the final pic.twitter.com/ndAfGQObIx
— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) November 16, 2019
The big step for Tsitsipas now:
— Trenton Jocz (@TrentonJocz) November 16, 2019
3-0 in ATP250 finals (Gulbis/Kukushkin/Cuevas)
0-5 in non-250 finals (Masters vs Rafa/Novak, 500s vs Rafa/Fed/Thiem)
Tsitsipas never won a title above 250 level.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 16, 2019
So tomorrow is a big day for him.
Tsitsipas: 'I would love to see one day potentially a fan base and people come to the court like they do for Roger, because it's an army. And you need that. You need an army like this.
— Ravi Ubha (@raviubha) November 16, 2019
I want to feel connected with people'
Tsitsipas-Thiem is the ATP Finals final with the youngest average age since Federer-Hewitt in 2004.
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) November 16, 2019
Changing of the 💂♂️💂♂️?#NittoATPFinals
"A little bit more and I'll end up playing with all the players from the ATP World Tour Finals."
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 16, 2019
This was @StefTsitsipas in 2016 as a hitting partner for @ThiemDomi.
Tomorrow, the two will face off in this year's final 🤯
📸: Stefanos Tsitsipas (IG) | #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/kJCv3nyxQr
This is the 8th time in #NittoATPFinals history both players are in their 1st tournament final:
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) November 17, 2019
2019 #Tsitsipas vs #Thiem
2017 Dimitrov d Goffin
2008 Djokovic d Davydenko
2001 Hewitt d Grosjean
1998 Corretja d Moya
1991 Sampras d Courier
1978 McEnroe d Ashe
1976 Orantes d Fibak
Tsitsipas is the future of tennis. He may win a grandslam next year. Mark my tweet.
— AMK (@AMK_UNLEASHED) November 16, 2019
Tsitsipas is the youngest player to make the final at the ATP Finals on his tournament debut since Jim Courier in 1991.
— Ravi Ubha (@raviubha) November 16, 2019
Courier was 5 days younger.
h/t to @SharkoTennis
[With inputs from AFP]