Tsitsipas Finds Rhythm and Relief in Perth Comeback
Stefanos Tsitsipas sweeps his United Cup singles in Perth, downing Taylor Fritz in a gritty battle that reignites his fire after months away, even as Greece falls short in the quarters.
Stefanos Tsitsipas walked onto the RAC Arena court in Perth carrying the quiet weight of an interrupted year, his back finally cooperating after sidelining him since September. The 27-year-old Greek delivered a 6-4, 7-5 win over Taylor Fritz in the United Cup 2026 quarterfinal, his first Top 10 victory in more than 18 months and a perfect cap to a 3-0 singles run for Team Greece. The indoor hard courts buzzed under the lights, the crowd’s energy pulling him through early exchanges where Fritz’s probing serves tested his timing.
This straight-sets result tilted their head-to-head to 4-2, a tactical duel where Tsitsipas’s heavy topspin forehands inside-out pulled the American off the baseline, opening lanes for down-the-line backhands that clipped the lines. He disrupted Fritz’s patterns with aggressive 1–2 combinations, deep returns neutralizing second serves and forcing errors in extended rallies. The victory pulsed with momentum, each point a step from rust back to rhythm on a surface that rewards precision over power.
“Pleased with the win. It was not easy getting into the match. I’ve been absent for a long time and matches like this challenge you to the fullest,” Tsitsipas said. “I feel like you really get tested in the most brutal and intense ways against players that have been very consistent in the past couple of months. Taylor is one of them. I was aware entering the court that my focus levels needed to be at their highest. I couldn’t allow myself to disconnect at any given moment during the match, and I delivered that excellently. My focus levels were there. I was trying to read play, trying to read the court and see what patterns he might start building up and liking a little bit more. I tried to stay away from those and played my game. Very offensive tennis. I dominated from the baseline at times. I felt like I was pretty solid in those rally exchanges. I’m very glad about my performance. It is one of those wins that adds to my confidence.”
Countering Fritz’s baseline pressure
Fritz arrived in form, his flat crosscourt backhands pinning Tsitsipas deep early on, the American’s first serves kicking up dust on the hard court edges. Tsitsipas adjusted by stepping inside the baseline, taking balls on the rise to redirect pace with looping topspin that forced Fritz to stretch wide. In the second set, as pressure mounted for a break, he held firm with slice approaches that drew the net-rusher forward, then passed with sharp inside-in forehands, the crowd erupting as the game turned.
The Perth heat filtered through the arena’s vents, amplifying the physical toll, yet Tsitsipas’s footwork stayed light, his one-handed backhand slicing low to disrupt rhythm and create openings. This wasn’t just endurance; it was calculated offense, varying depths to keep Fritz guessing between crosscourt exchanges and sudden down-the-line shifts. By the final game, the Greek’s dominance from the baseline had rewritten the script, confidence building like the evening shadows lengthening outside.
Forging partnership in mixed doubles defeat
Greece’s quarterfinal hopes rested on the mixed doubles, where Tsitsipas teamed with Maria Sakkari against Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison, the court alive with quick transitions and net poaches. Their blend showed promise—his finesse at the net complementing her heavy groundstrokes—but USA’s speed edged them out, ending the tie and semifinal dreams in Sydney. Still, the match yielded insights, each rally refining how their games intertwined on the fast surface.
Sakkari’s power covered the baseline while Tsitsipas rushed forward on short balls, their synergy growing through volleys and lobs that kept points alive longer than expected. The loss carried a sting, the RAC Arena crowd falling silent as the final point landed, but it sparked reflection on adjustments for future ties. Tsitsipas emerged proud of the effort, viewing the setback as fuel for growth in their evolving duo.
“I spoke to Maria. I’m very proud of her, she did excellently. I’m happy that I got to share the court with her,” he reflected. “We are building a great duo, me and her. I feel like every doubles match that we get to play, we come to new realisations about our games. We blend in quite well, and I feel like every match we’ve played, we’ve always received feedback and always understood how our games can interact even better. Obviously it sucks losing today and not capturing that win to go to Sydney, but I see that as a greater opportunity to grow from it, use it in a positive way, and hopefully come back next year with hunger.”
Embracing pain-free momentum ahead
Across three singles matches and two mixed doubles rubbers, Tsitsipas’s body held strong at No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings, a 12-time ATP Tour champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist free from the aches that defined his recent months. No twinges meant full immersion, each swing on the hard courts a pure connection without the shadow of lower back strain. This physical ease transformed training from a burden into a pursuit, reigniting the joy that injuries had dimmed.
Looking to the Adelaide International before Melbourne, he carries this bliss forward, the United Cup’s intensity a bridge to grander stages where sustained form could climb rankings swiftly. Perth’s validation lingers, a quiet assurance amid the tour’s demands, positioning him to channel team lessons and personal triumphs into deeper Australian swing runs. The path ahead hums with possibility, his game sharpening for whatever the hard courts throw next.
“So far everything is good,” Tsitsipas said of his physical state. “It’s great feedback, knowing that sort of thing, knowing that I’m not feeling any aches or pains. I’m actually very pleased that I get to enjoy tennis daily, without any discomfort and pain that might be causing me more stress in everyday life… I’m super glad I get to play the sport that I love. Health is the most important thing in the world. I’m really truly enjoying every single match that I get to play pain free. I haven’t had that in a while, so to be able to play that way creates happiness and satisfaction, and makes me want to go back to train. Especially when you are dealing with so much pain and especially in the lower back, you are very discouraged pretty quick when you see yourself a few times in that same situation. Training doesn’t become as enjoyable anymore. To be able to do that right now is like the biggest bliss.”
