“Risked Missing Out Australian Open”: Stefanos Tsitsipas on Novak Djokovic’s Recent Deportation Fiasco

The draw for the men’s and women’s singles matches in the Australian Open is finally over. After a lot of drama, World no.1 Novak Djokovic will play his first match as the number one seed in the Australian Open. In the first round, The Serbian will play against his fellow compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic, 78-ranked in the world. 

Meanwhile, World no.4, Stefanos Tsitsipas has been following the Djokovic case along with many others. He has some interesting things to say about the controversy surrounding the Serb. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas has his say on the whole Novak Djokovic saga

Last year’s French Open finalist, Stefanos Tsitsipas believes Novak was playing by his own rules and didn’t care about the consequences. Adding to that, he also thinks almost every player took the vaccine just to play on the tour, and no one defied the rules apart from Djokovic. 

Speaking to an interview with WION, the Greek player said, “Djokovic has been playing by his own rules and has risked missing out in the Australian Open.”

“Not having to follow the protocols, it takes a lot of daring… I don’t think many players would do that… I chose to go and be 100% ready.” Tsitsipas added. 

World no.4 also said the tennis community is pretty much divided on the whole thing and most of them followed the protocols apart from a few people. 

Stefanos wants to learn from his past mistakes 

Stefanos had a bittersweet 2021 and hopes to turn it around in 2022. He reached the Roland Garros final last year, where the Greek player faced Novak Djokovic in the final. After winning the first two sets, he went on to lose the final, which still has him thinking. 

Watch The Story: Dramatic hard court moments of Tsitsipas, Medvedev, and others

Speaking with WION, he said, “it(The final) taught me a lot… That I should never defend too much…should just be going for it.”

It was Stefanos’ first ever grand slam final and hoping to reach another one in Australia. The number four seed will face unseeded Mikael Ymer of Sweden in the first round of the Australian Open. If he stays focused throughout the whole tournament, he will surely reach the final, even win it.

Will Stefanos Tsitsipas win the Australian Open? Let us know in the comments.

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