Star's 'vulnerability' ahead of Aussie match-up

1 year ago 80

Stefanos Tsitsipas whitethorn beryllium the 3rd effect successful the men's gully astatine this year's Australian Open, but Roger Rasheed says the Greek is showing signs of vulnerability.

Speaking connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily, Lleyton Hewitt's erstwhile manager labelled Tsitsipas "fun to watch" but unfastened to an upset.

The 24-year-old is inactive connected the hunt for his maiden expansive slam success.

LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2023 time 2 highlights

In 2021, helium made the last astatine Roland Garros lone to spell down to Novak Djokovic successful a 5 acceptable thriller.

Tsitsipas has thrice made the semi-final of the Australian Open (2019, 2021, 2022).

Heading into this year's expansive slam, lone Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud person higher seedings.

Tsitsipas bushed Quentin Halys of France successful consecutive sets connected Monday and volition look Australia's Rinky Hijikata connected Wednesday successful the 2nd round.

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

"Pretty clean, there's nary uncertainty astir that," said Rasheed of Tsitsipas' opening performance.

"He deed the shot good and moved well. I'm conscionable looking astatine what their tribunal presumption is similar and if they're going done the gears, due to the fact that it's not afloat throttle successful the archetypal match, but it's astir going done the gears and I similar that.

"Is helium 1 of the large ones that tin win? He's the 3rd seed. I inactive deliberation there's a spot of vulnerability with Stefanos, but he's amusive to watch."

Tsitsipas bags opening-round AO win

Tsitsipas looked astatine easiness successful his archetypal lucifer and offered a jovial interview, leaning into immoderate iconic Australian slang.

"Yeah, crikey! That was a rip-snorter mate," helium said, overmuch to the amusement of the assemblage courtside.

"Really gladsome to beryllium playing level retired similar a lizard successful the water.

"I'm going afloat in. I'm committing. I'm practicing, I'm practicing," helium laughed erstwhile asked astir the slang.

"Happy I got the biscuit successful the end. It was great."

"I'm blessed to beryllium backmost successful Australia. It's 1 of my favourite places to beryllium playing tennis," helium added.

"I'm committing to the slang. I don't bash that often, I don't perpetrate to that arsenic often erstwhile I travel, but I'm truly liking each azygous clip erstwhile I'm backmost here.

"I get to spot immoderate of my cousins and it feels similar location here. It's large being back, it's large getting enactment similar this."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!