Stefanos Tsitsipas got here of age at London’s 02 Area with a shocking victory over Dominic Thiem to win the ATP Finals.
The 21-year-old from Athens grew to become the youngest winner of the celebrated season-ending event since Lleyton Hewitt in 2001, and the youngest debutant to elevate the trophy since John McEnroe again in 1978.
Only a 12 months after profitable the NextGen Finals, for gamers of 21 and underneath, Tsitsipas blended it with the perfect on the financial institution of the Thames and got here out on high.
Congratulated by his nation’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after his semi-final win over Roger Federer, Tsitsipas went on to jot down his identify in Greek sporting mythology with a 6-7 (6) 6-2 7-6 (4) victory.
It was solely the third time in 16 years that the ultimate didn’t function at the very least one of many ‘huge three’, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Federer, and additional proof absolutely that the long-awaited energy shift in males’s tennis is lastly on the way in which.
At 26 Thiem is nearly a part of that youthful scene as properly, and his notable wins over Federer and Djokovic this week helped him climb to fourth on this planet rankings.
However the remaining belonged to Tsitsipas and the legions of Greek followers who made the 02 really feel like a house from house for the brand new champion.
The 2 are shut associates on the Tour – Tsitsipas even acted as Thiem’s hitting companion on the event in 2016 – and so they embraced on the web after a gruelling encounter.
Tsitsipas mentioned: “I used to be taking part in with nerves, it’s such an enormous occasion. I used to be a break up within the third set, however couldn’t maintain it, however I’m so relieved with this excellent efficiency I gave on the courtroom.
“It’s phenomenal, unbelievable to have such a military behind me, they provide me power, and perception, and I simply love that. I want to thank everybody who supported me with a Greek flags and made me really feel at house.”
Tsisipas was the aggressor from the beginning, dropping simply three factors in his opening three service video games whereas forcing the primary break level, from which Thiem escaped with a graceful of his forehand.
There have been additional probabilities to interrupt for each gamers, Tsitsipas serving and volleying his method out of hassle and Thiem discovering his first serve when he wanted it.
A tie-break was required to separate them, and when the rating reached 7-6 every participant had gained 44 factors. However crucially, Thiem had the ball in his hand and an unreturnable first serve clinched the opening set.
But if that was tight, the second was a walkover as Tsitsipas broke twice, raced right into a 4-Zero lead and confidently served it out.
The primary set had taken over an hour, the second lasted 26 minutes in a blur of shaggy hair and flamboyant shot-making, and all Thiem’s good work had unravelled.
When Thiem netted a backhand Tsitsipas had an early break within the decider, however the Greek started bearing presents and three wayward backhands allowed Thiem to attract stage.
The highly effective one-handed backhands had been out in pressure from each gamers within the tie-break, however it was a horrible, wafted forehand from Thiem which handed Tsitsipas the initiative, and a memorable victory was wrapped up in two hours and 34 minutes.
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