The first major upset of the men’s singles portion of the Australian Open happened on Sunday with Roger Federer bowing out to 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Federer, ranked #3 in the world and the defending champion of the tournament, lost a long, drawn-out match in which he was worn out by the rising Greek star.
The Swiss tennis legend admitted that Tsitsipas, 17 years his junior, took advantage of his lack of stamina. The match lasted nearly 4 hours on a warm Melbourne evening.
The game was full of tension and sets that went to extra games, with the final result ending up as a 6-7 (110), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (5) win for Tsitsipas.
Federer, the winner of 20 career Grand Slam singles titles, including 6 at the Australian Open, exited in the Round of 16 for the first time in Melbourne for the first time since 2003.
Despite an unrivaled run of dominance that has lasted for the better part of two decades, Federer seems to be slowing down a bit as he nears 40 years old.
Tsitsipas’s win on Sunday also signifies a changing of the guard in the tennis world, with the young Greek player showing that he will be a force to reckon with in the years to come.
