Tsitsipas continues Greek odyssey at Wimbledon as Federer keeps rolling
Teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek man to reach the last 16 of a grand slam tournament in the professional era when he outclassed Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano on Friday.
The 31st seed has become a hit with fans at the All England Club due to his dynamic style and he was impressive again during a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory in Athenian-type temperatures.
Before this year Tsitsipas, whose mother is a former top Russian tennis player and whose father packed in his job to coach him, had never won a grand slam match.
But he has rocketed up the rankings and is already the first Greek to crack the top 100 in the ATP rankings.
He is the first Greek man in the round of 16 at the All England Club since Nicky Kalogeropoulos in 1964, before the start of the professional era.
"It's amazing. It's an amazing feeling, and I feel very proud that I represent Greece and that all of my hard work has paid off," the 19-year-old, who will play big-serving American John Isner on Monday, told reporters.
"I feel extremely proud that I can be the first Greek in the Open Era in the fourth round of a grand slam."
Tsitsipas is part of the ATP's Next Gen — the young guns led by Alexander Zverev who are expected to be challenging for grand slam titles in the not-too-distant future.
Blessed with great athleticism and power and a silky one-handed backhand, Tsitsipas looks to have all the tools to continue the remarkable progress which has seen him rise from 94th to 35th in the rankings in little more than six months.
His performances so far have even drawn comparisons with German great Boris Becker — chiefly because of his love of diving full-length for volleys on the grass.
One such point during his five-set win over American Jared Donaldson in the second round proved a hit on social media.
"When I step out on the court, it's not a priority for me to do a diving shot during the match," he said.
"It's not on my mind. It just comes at a certain moment, a crucial moment where I really need the point, and the only solution is to dive."
After playing for three consecutive days — his match with Donaldson spanned two days — Tsitsipas now has a weekend off.
He said he would be hard at work practising, trying to keep the rhythm he has established, but when he gets back to his rented accommodation in leafy Wimbledon village he will relax by catching up on some movies.
"It's a better atmosphere than the other grand slams," he said..
"I'm staying in a nice house this week. Apparently the guy who owns the house has a massive collection of DVDs and movies, so I'm watching a different movie every single day."
As stories go, Tsitsipas's is already a good one and who knows where it will end up next week.
Federer keeps cruising with win over Struff
Roger Federer maintained his cruise control through the first week of the tournament, advancing to the fourth round without dropping a set after his 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win over German Jan-Lennard Struff.
Federer, seeking a record ninth Wimbledon title, eased through the first set before the big-serving Struff put up more of a fight in the second.
But Federer clinched it with a superb service game that included a wonderful volley at the end of a long rally followed by a winning drive down the line.
The 36-year-old Swiss proceeded to win his 29th consecutive set at the All England Club and wrap up victory on Centre Court with an ace on his first match point in just over one and a half hours.
"Against big servers who go for a lot it's always difficult to find rhythm and be sure that you are in the driver's seat until the match is over," Federer said after his 175th grasscourt win.
"I was happy to stay calm and finish off the job. I thought I did very well today. I created more chances in the second set and was always able to stay pretty clean on my own service game.
"It's a wonderful feeling walking out there. I take every match one at a time, I try to put on a good match, try hard every time, and will never underestimate anybody — that keeps me in check."
Federer next faces French 22nd seed Adrian Mannarino, who beat Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3.
McDonald makes last 16
Wimbledon debutant Mackenzie McDonald reached the fourth round when the American beat Argentine Guido Pella 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in two hours on Court 18.
World number 82 Pella had high hopes of progressing after his five-set upset victory over third seed Marin Cilic of Croatia on Thursday.
But the 23-year-old McDonald, ranked 103, was on a roll after coming through the qualifiers before reaching the third round with a five-set victory over Chile's Nicolas Jarry that went to 11-9 in the deciding set.
McDonald will not know his opponent in his first grand slam fourth round match until Saturday (local time) after the clash between 13th seed Milos Raonic and Austrian Dennis Novak was suspended at one set all with the Canadian leading 6-5 in the third.
A disappointed Pella said: "If I'd played Cilic the way I played today I'd have lost in an hour. It's all about how I feel facing each match and today I was tense and couldn't loosen up."
In other results, France's Gael Monfils beat American Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, and will next meet eight seed Kevin Anderson, who beat Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-5, 7-5.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev completed another five-set comeback, beating American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (7-0), 6-1, 6-2 in a match that was suspended on day four after the third set.
Reuters/AP
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