Australian Open QF preview and prediction: Tsitsipas vs. Sinner

Jannik Sinner
Getty Images

Is Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Jannik Sinner a battle between two future Grand Slam champions? It’s possible, if not even probable.

And the future could be now.

Although they aren’t the absolute favorites, both Tsitsipas and Sinner have realistic title hopes heading into their quarterfinal clash at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Tsitsipas is the No. 4 player in the world and he came within one set of winning the 2021 French Open (lost to Novak Djokovic from two sets up). Sinner has surged into the top 10 and is playing especially well at the moment.

The Italian is playing much better than Tsitsipas, in fact. Sinner is 7-0 so far this season and dating back to the 2021 campaign his winning streak stands at 10. He booked his spot in the Aussie Open quarterfinals by beating Joao Sousa, Steve Johnson, Taro Daniel, and Alex de Minaur–dropping just one set to Daniel in the process.

Tsitsipas was unsure if he would even play in this event because of an elbow problem. The 23-year-old’s results have been a disaster, too, dating back to that heartbreaker at Roland Garros. However, he has done extremely well to reach the quarterfinals Down Under despite being nowhere near his best. Tsitsipas cruised past Mikael Ymer in his opening match and then battled through tough ones against Sebastian Baez (four sets), Benoit Paire (four), and Taylor Fritz (five). The fourth seed arguably had no business beating Fritz on Monday night, but he was superior to the American from a mental standpoint throughout the fourth and fifth sets.

Fritz let Tsitsipas off the hook. Sinner probably won’t be as generous. Despite being in the very early stages of his career, this is already the 20-year-old’s fourth trip to the second week of a slam–including a quarterfinal run at the 2020 French Open. Tsitsipas’ game can’t hang with Sinner’s at the moment, and the Greek may not have any advantage in the department of intangibles, either.

It won’t be entirely routine, but Sinner has the edge.

Pick: Sinner in 4

154
WWW: Tsitsipas vs. Sinner?

16 Comments on Australian Open QF preview and prediction: Tsitsipas vs. Sinner

  1. I hope meddy n tsitsi win .that sf could then go long…

    I am sure rafa will play first right on Friday right how will both be played on Friday? One day one night or one starting 4 pm and other 7 pm

  2. Sinner was still a little bit green and got found out. He will take some big lessons out of that and unfortunately everyone has to go through it. Even Nadal got shellacked early in his career.

    • Very true. Rafa was at the ripe old age of 22 before winning his first HC slam, and 24 before finally winning his first USO.

      I guess Tsitsi’s surgery got his elbow sorted and Uncle Toni got FAA’s head sorted in short order! Hope FAA hangs in there. Meddy is a very tricky customer.

  3. Sinner peaked in the ATP Finals and never recovered that form even though he competed well enough to make it the 1/4s.

    If he brought the ATP Finals, he was chance of winning this title.

    There is also evidence that Medvedev’s level has faded this year, as well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




Skip to toolbar