Stefanos Tsitsipas says he “fought like a warrior” after five sets

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Melbourne, Feb 11 (AFP/APP): World number six Stefanos Tsitsipas said he “fought like a warrior” Thursday after being pushed to a marathon five sets by wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open.

The popular Greek star dropped only four games in his first-round match, but faced a far sterner challenge from the 267th-ranked Australian.

He finally came through 6-7,5/7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-7,5/7, 6-4 but needed 4hr 32min to do it on a muggy day at Rod Laver Arena. “I fought like a lion, I fought like a real warrior out there,” he said. “It was an amazing ending with lots of emotion and great spirits.” It was Tsitsipas’ first five-set win on hard courts and his reward is a third-round meeting with Swede Mikael Ymer, who beat promising Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’m happy that I got my first five-set win… more three-set wins in Slams would be nice,” he added with a smile. Tsitsipas went into the match as hot favourite, having demolished Gilles Simon in his opening match and never having lost a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as Kokkinakis.

He has a solid record against Australians, with Nick Kyrgios, who was watching in the stadium, the only one to beat him.

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