The ratio, of course, is discouraging.
Stefanos Tsitsipas won only 16.7% of his duels against Novak Djokovic, that is to say two games in twelve confrontations.
Above all, the Serb has won the last nine.
However, there are reasons to believe in a victory for the Greek in the Australian Open final on Sunday.
Firstly because his only two successes took place on hard, his opponent's favorite surface, and the one that covers the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Then because some of his defeats were very hung, as evidenced by the last - and only - Grand Slam final between the two men, that of Roland-Garros in 2021. Alongside this game with a crazy scenario, four other rich encounters lessons deserve to be analyzed before Sunday's final.
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Roland-Garros 2021, final: hope struck down
This is undoubtedly the most significant confrontation between the two men.
Very comfortable on Parisian clay that spring, Tsitsipas played in his very first Grand Slam final.
Opposite, Novak Djokovic cleared the way to a 19th Grand Slam title by eliminating the host, Rafael Nadal, after an anthology match.
Not overwhelmed by the stakes, the Greek delivers a start to the match full of panache, does not hold back his shots, and wins the first two sets.
Novak Djokovic then allows himself a cool break outside the court.
This is the turning point of the match.
On his return, the Serb is no longer the same player and makes short work of Tsitsipas.
Final score 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
In a press conference, the Greek is surprised by this metamorphosis: "
I don't know what happened there… When he came back, he suddenly became a different player
.
It is this final that Djokovic would have “forgotten” a few days ago in front of the journalists, affirming that Tsitsipas “
has already played the last rounds of a Grand Slam”
but
“never a final”.
"
I don't remember either
," replied his opponent on Friday.
Sunday's final is on.
Roland-Garros 2021 final. Djokovic beats Tsitsipas 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Panoramic
Toronto 2018 Round of 16: Carefree Youth
The very first duel between Tsitsipas and Djokovic had turned to the advantage of the younger.
Aged 20 and 21st in the world rankings, the Greek then signed one of the finest feats of his young career, after having taken out the Austrian Dominic Thiem in the previous round.
Without complex against a Djokovic inside, he took the first set 6-3 before giving up the second in the tie-break.
He breaks the Serbian entry in the third round and manages to hold.
Final score 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.
The magnificent course of the young man does not stop there.
He defeated in the quarterfinals Alexander Zverev, seeded N.2 in the tournament at the time, then Kevin Anderson (N.4), before finally losing in the final against Rafael Nadal.
Sunday in Melbourne, Stefanos Tsitsipas would have every interest in
Toronto Masters 1000 Round of 16 2018. Tsitsipas defeats Djokovic 6-3 6-7 6-3.
Panoramic
Roland-Garros 2020, semi-final: the vain rebellion
A year before the 2021 final, the Greek and the Serb had faced each other in the semi-final at Porte d'Auteuil.
In five sets already, but with an entirely different scenario.
This time, the Serb easily won the first two sets (6-3, 6-2) before missing a match point in the third and then suffering a nice comeback from the Greek.
This one shows character and finds its sensations in the service, forehand and backhand.
He takes the next two sets (7-5, 6-4), but leaves feathers there.
The fifth set is unfortunately without suspense (6-1), Tsitsipas collapsing physically and mentally, with the added bonus of a painful adductor.
3h54 of play all the same, which probably weighed on the legs of the Serb when he was demolished in the final by Rafael Nadal, 6-0, 6-2, 7-5.
Roland-Garros 2020 final. Djokovic defeats Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.
Panoramic
Shanghai 2019, quarter-final: the last triumph
Another success on hard on which the Greek can rely.
Bad start in this match after the loss of the first set, he finds the resources to reverse the situation and wins in just over two hours of play (3-6, 7-5, 6-3).
Intractable on his faceoffs and opportunistic on those of Djokovic, Tsitsipas produced flamboyant and aggressive tennis that day, unleashing a total of 34 winning strokes.
His backhand is surprisingly solid, and his forehand crosses are devastating.
Aged 21 at the time, he signed an achievement that few players can boast of: beating Djokovic, Nadal and Federer in the same season.
In the final, he fought a good battle but ended up losing to Daniil Medvedev.
Shaghai Masters 1000 quarter-final 2019. Tsitsipas defeats Djokovic 3-6 7-5, 6-3.
Panoramic
Rome 2021, quarter-final: the wasted opportunity
Two days.
This is the time it took Novak Djokovic to overcome Stefanos Tsitsipas on Roman soil, in May 2021. The fault of the rain, which forced the two men to resume their game only the next day.
A saving interruption for the Serb.
The flood for the Greek.
Because before this disruptive event, the latter dominates the meeting of the head and shoulders.
His long line backhands like his forehand crosses put Djokovic very far from the ball.
By the time the pair returned to the court the next day, he was leading a zero set and had a break in the second.
But the Serb rebels, and his cry of rage when equalizing at 4-4 says a lot about his determination.
He takes the second set 7-5.
Tsitsipas does not give up and breaks from the third game of the third set,
the opportunity for Djokovic to destroy a racket.
He broke shortly after, but Tsitsipas regained his serve at 4-4, at the best of times.
The Greek serves to win the match, but cracks, and loses his face-off twice to finally lose 7-5.
Cruel.
As usual.
Rome 2021 Masters 1000 quarter-final. Djokovic defeats Tsitsipas 4-6 7-5 7-5.
Panoramic