Stefanos Tsitsipas grew up idolizing Roger Federer.
The 20-time Grand Slam king sees some of his style in Tsitsipas.
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The 20-year-old Tsitsipas made history stunning Federer in the Australian Open fourth round to become the first Greek player—male or female—to advance to a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The 37-year-old Swiss says he sees elements of his attacking game in his conqueror.
"Yeah, I mean, I guess so," Federer said of Tsitsipas. "He has a one-handed backhand and I used to have long hair, too. Yeah, so maybe a little bit, sure.
"He has more of a continental grip than players nowadays. Sure, that's a bit more my way than, let's say, Rafa's way."
The 14th-seeded Greek out-aced Federer (20 to 12) and won nearly an identical number of net points as the Swiss while denying all 12 break points he faced.
Was Tsitsipas' fourth-round conquest of Federer a symbolic passing of the wand from the master to the apprentice?
Nearly 18 years ago another rising young hot shot, a 15th-seeded stylist sporting a pony-tail named Roger Federer dethroned seven-time Wimbledon king Pete Sampras with a dramatic 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-5 fourth-round triumph on Wimbledon's Centre Court.
It was the first and last match between legends.
Playing an opponent who is a virtual mirror image of his own style—the young Federer was serving-and-volleying on first and many second serves in those days—Sampras made his earliest exit from Wimbledon in 10 years.
The six-time Australian Open champion does not believe his loss is a "changing of the guard" saying he's seen this story spun before.
"I've heard that story the last 10 years," Federer said. "From that standpoint, nothing new there.
"About Stefanos, I think he's definitely done a really nice job now the last year and a half. I mean before that, too, obviously. But beating Novak in Toronto, the likes of Anderson and Zverev, now me here. That's what you need to do to get to the next level. He's doing that. It's really nice for him.
"I see him definitely being high up in the game for a long time. That was a good night for him tonight."
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve