Greek 5th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas survived an exhilarating five-set Wimbledon struggle towards Dominic Thiem on Wednesday to e-book a blockbuster second-round conflict towards two-time champion Andy Murray.
While Tsitsipas was once driven to the edge in a grueling first-round tie lasting virtually 4 hours, former international primary Murray is easily rested after crushing Ryan Peniston in his match opener on Tuesday.
Tsitsipas held his nerve in a last set tie-break to safe a 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (10/8) victory.
“For a second I thought we were doing the repeat of Isner versus Mahut,” Tsitsipas stated in connection with the longest fit in historical past, performed at Wimbledon in 2010.
“It felt forever. Obviously I’m super happy to win against someone who has brought the best out of me every time we’ve played.”
Beaten through Novak Djokovic within the Australian Open ultimate previous this 12 months earlier than a last-eight go out on the French Open, Tsitsipas is aiming to make his first deep run at Wimbledon.
Tsitsipas reached the French Open ultimate two years in the past, making him the one Greek guy to seem in a Grand Slam identify fit.
But the 24-year-old has been much less at ease on grass, achieving the fourth around most effective as soon as in 5 earlier visits to Wimbledon.
The crowd-pleasing Tsitsipas is in most cases well-liked by Wimbledon fanatics, however he is aware of he’ll no longer have a lot give a boost to towards house favourite Murray.
“I’m not expecting anyone supporting me, but it’s not my first rodeo,” he stated.
Tsitsipas, who might be enjoying on Center Court for the primary time, stated he remembered Murray successful his first Wimbledon identify in 2013.
“Obviously he is someone who has done so much for the sport,” he stated.
Thiem gained the United States Open in 2020 however that triumph has no longer proved a springboard for sustained good fortune on the Grand Slams.
The 29-year-old Austrian’s growth has been hampered through wrist and finger accidents, preserving him at the sidelines for a number of months and knocking him out of the highest 350 in 2022.
Now ranked 91, Thiem was once enjoying at Wimbledon for the primary time since 2019 as he chased a primary victory on the match for 6 years.
Rain pressured the fit to be postponed on Tuesday, with Thiem having taken the primary set however down 4-3 in the second one.
That set the level for riveting drama on Court Two because the conflict swung again and fourth earlier than Tsitsipas completed it in becoming taste with a blistering winner down the road.