MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s hopes of winning a third consecutive Australian Open title were crushed by 20-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who earned the biggest victory of his career to reach the quarter-finals yesterday.
The 37-year-old Swiss committed 55 unforced errors and wasted all 12 of his break-point opportunities in a 6-7(11) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(5) defeat under the lights of Rod Laver Arena.
Tsitsipas, who won the ATP Next Gen Finals last year, will now face Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the semi-finals.
“I’m the happiest man on earth right now, I can’t describe it,” Tsitsipas said.
In the other big upset of the day, world number two Angelique Kerber was beaten 6-0 6-2 by American Danielle Collins, who made her main-draw debut at Melbourne Park this year.
Men’s second seed Rafa Nadal continued his steady progress by defeating Czech Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-1 7-6(4).
The Spaniard will next meet world number 39 Frances Tiafoe, who celebrated his 21st birthday by overcoming Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-5 7-6(6) 6-7(1) 7-5.
Australian number one Ashleigh Barty displayed her title credentials as she powered past former world number one Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-1 6-4.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fought back from a set down to dump former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens out of the tournament with a 6-7(3) 6-3 6-3 win at Rod Laver Arena, closing day seven of the tournament.
The unseeded Russian reached her second quarter-final at Melbourne Park and will now meet another American in Danielle Collins. Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut kept his composure in a tense five-set encounter to knock out 2018 runner-up Marin Cilic 6-7(6) 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4 and reach his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final.
It was Bautista Agut’s third five-set victory at Melbourne Park this week.
