By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Stefanos Tsitsipas' inspired Melbourne dream run came to a complete collapse in the center of the court.

Unleashing a twisting service winner on match point, Tsitsipas tossed his racquet aside and dropped flat on his back like a man plunging into a pool.

Federer: Tsitsipas Plays My Way

A fired-up Tsitsipas repelled Roberto Bautista Agut, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), making history as the first Greek player to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

At 20 years 168 days, Tsitsipas is the youngest man to reach the Melbourne final four since Andy Roddick (20 years 149 days) in 2003.



Operating beneath a searing sun, Tsitsipas started slowly but showed staying power in rallying from a break down in the first three sets. Growing stronger as the match progressed, Tsitsipas hurt the strong-willed Spaniard with the depth and direction of his forehand. 

Showing his all-court acumen, Tsitsipas backed up his upset of two-time defending champion Roger Federer, while confirming his status as a title contender.

The entire experience, coming after his stunning triumph over Grand Slam king Federer, left Tsitsipas feeling like it was all a bit surreal.

"It all feels like a fairy-tale almost," Tsitsipas told Jim Courier afterward. "I'm just living the dream, living what I've been working hard for. I mean, I feel a bit emotional, but not too much. Because again I really worked hard to get here playing the semis of a Grand Slam.

"I started the year and they asked me what are my goals this year and I said semis of a Grand Slam and when I answered this question, I thought I was crazy. But no, it is real and it just happened."

The elation of Tsitsipas' four-set upset of Federer in the fourth round had barely faded when he recharged the intensity to become the youngest man to reach a major semifinal since Novak Djokovic (20 years 110 days) at the 2007 US Open.

Tsitsipas rocketed 68 winners, including 22 aces, snapping the Spaniard's nine-match winning streak and handing Bautista Agut his first loss of the season.

The 14th-seeded Greek will play either 17-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal or 21-year-old Frances Tiafoe for a spot in the final.

"I know that if I keep fighting and keep pushing myself more and more I'll get more chances," Tsitsipas said. "I only had one chance to close the match, but he fought hard and played a bit better. So I respected that. I accepted that and continued playing and said to myself keep pushing, keep serving well and keep returning and you'll get close and it happened... I believe performance-wise, I earned the tie break."

Contesting his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in his 25th major appearance, Bautista Agut broke first to open.

A tight Tsitsipas slapped a smash into net to surrender serve in the opening game.

The Greek's forehand is a varied and powerful instrument that he can lash in any direction. Hitting the forehand down the line throughout the first set, Tsitsipas fooled the Spaniard drilling the diagonal forehand behind him for double set point.

On his second set point, Tsitsipas whipped another inside-out forehand snatching five of the final six games to seize the 50-minute opening set.

Three of Bautista Agut's four tournament wins came in five-setters, including an emotional triumph over Andy Murray in his opener and a marathon 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over 2018 finalist Marin Cilic in round four.

Running with a purpose, the 30-year-old Spaniard caught up to a drop shot and angled a clever pass breaking for a 2-1 second-set lead.

Bautista Agut confirmed the break for 3-1 and never looked back leveling the match after two sets.

Punishing physical rallies drained the Doha champion who was taking more time between points in the third set.

Tsitsipas slashed an ace down the middle holding for 5-4.

Attacking Bautista Agut's weaker backhand wing, Tsitsipas battered an error for a third set point. Reading the drop shot, the Greek was a streak catching up to the ball and nudging a clean pass down the line. Tsitsipas reeled off four consecutive games to earn a two sets to one lead. 

Should Tsitsipas continue this dream run and reach the final, he would crack the Top 10 for the first time.