As Stefanos Tsitsipas was dragged unwillingly to a fifth set after leading Jannik Sinner in his fourth-round match at the Australian Open, the signs were concerning. Every service game was a painful fight, with Tsitsipas facing 18 break points in the third and fourth sets alone, and the final set began with his opponent in control. Sinner prowled on top of the baseline, dictating play and prepared to shut him out.
But under immense pressure Tsitsipas thrived. He hustled out an early break against the run of play, taking advantage of Sinner’s nerves, and as the momentum shifted he refused to let go. His serve was supreme for the rest of the set, he didn’t face the break point and somehow he survived.
