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Stefanos Tsitsipas French Open 2021
Roland Garros, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tennis News

‘My job is to fight, and that’s what I did,’ declares tearful Tsitsipas after win


Stefanos Tsitsipas was truly emotional after reaching his maiden Grand Slam final after defeating Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros.

The Greek superstar held off a comeback from the German to win 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and forty minutes on-court.

“All I can think of is my roots, where I came from,” Tsitsipas said with tears in his eyes during his post-match interview. “I came from a really small place outside Athens.

“My dream was to play here, to play on the biggest stage of the French Open one day. I would have never thought that I would [achieve that dream].

“It was nerve-wracking, it was so intense. We got to the fifth set, first game, I think it was the most important game of the fifth set.”

Serving first in the fifth, Tsitsipas was 0-40 down facing three break points, before winning five points in a row to hold before eventually breaking for 3-1, holding each time from there to win the match.

“I came back, I stayed alive, I had the crowd with me, they were cheering me on, they were giving me their energy.

“I still felt like there was hope, I still felt there were opportunities for me to fight back and do something.

“[My] only job is to go out there and fight, and that’s what I did. It was very difficult, very emotional.

“I went through a lot of phases of emotional breakdowns but this win means a lot, this win is the most important of my career so far.”

Tsitsipas awaits either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic for the battle to become 2021 Roland Garros champion.


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