Roger Federer: Stefanos Tsitsipas opens up on 'magical' Australian Open moment
ROGER FEDERER was knocked out of last month’s Australian Open by Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Greek star has now opened up on his emotions after that match.
Tsitsipas stunned Federer in the last-16 in Melbourne, winning 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6.
The 20-year-old was eventually knocked out by Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals as Novak Djokovic went on to lift the trophy.
The clash with Nadal was Tsitsipas’s last match though he goes into this week’s Sofia Open as the No 2 seed.
Roger Federer is yet to return to the court for a competitive match since being beaten by the Greek ace.
And Tsitsipas has now revealed exactly what he was feeling after beating Federer in Australia.
“It was like a dream come true,” Tsitsipas said. “After that match, I felt like my brain was exploding.
“It was a magical moment that I will never forget. The first time is always special, beating your idol.
“Obviously, next time, when we face again, it is going to be different.
“He will know what to expect. And I have to be more prepared for that.
“I like to play this kind of players. You can learn a lot of things.
“Even when I win, I still can learn a lot of things from them.
“These are the moments I am playing tennis for.”
Tsitsipas is expected to be a star of the game for years to come, just like Federer has been.
Stefanos Tsitsipas: I’ve idolised Roger Federer since I was six
But 2015 US Open winner Flavia Pennetta believes the youngster should not be compared with Federer.
“They are comparing Tsitsipas with Sampras and Federer,” said Pennetta.
“You have not to remove anything from Tsitsipas, I like this guy a lot as a person because he is very educated, nice, smiley.
“He is calm and as a player as well because he does great things on court.
“He is definitely one of the next generation, of the players who will write the tennis history.”