Tsitsipas sends Nadal packing at the Australian Open 2021

Tsitsipas sends Nadal packing in an edge of the seat quarterfinal at the Australian Open 2021. He became just the second player to vanquish Nadal from two sets down in a slam. Stefanos will face Medvedv in the semifinals, for a berth in the final, on Friday.

Tsitsipas sends Nadal packing from two sets down

Nadal enjoyed a 6-1 head to head lead in their rivalry until the 2021 AO encounter, with Tistsipas lone win coming in 2019 on Nadal’s favorite surface! After a listless display in the first two, Tsitsipas played some scintillating tennis to win 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 7-5.

Stefanos was in the proverbial zone from the third set. He went for his shots and took the ball early enough to unsettle, a usually composed, Rafa.

“I don’t know what happened after the third set — I fly like little bird, everything was working for me,” said Tsitsipas.

“The emotions at the end were indescribable, they were something else.”

“I was able to be consistent with my mood and be calm in the crucial moments,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to keep everything to myself and I’m happy with my attitude I showed on the court.”

The Recipe to take Rafa down in a five set duel

The length of the shots, the ability to take the balls early, and an effective down the line backhand is the recipe to take Rafa down in a five setter. And, the young Greek star excelled on all three fronts from the third set tie break.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Nadal and another lost opportunity to perhaps win one more Australian Open. But the next slam will see Rafa overtake Roger for the most slams won by a male player. Happy days will soon be back for the Rafa camp.