Tsitsipas rallies to edge Greece toward United Cup quarters
In a tense Perth showdown, Stefanos Tsitsipas shook off a shaky start against Billy Harris, securing a gritty win that puts Greece one victory from the United Cup quarterfinals.
Perth’s Pat Rafter Arena hummed with anticipation on Monday as Stefanos Tsitsipas battled Billy Harris in a pivotal Group E match at the United Cup 2026. The 27-year-old Greek, ranked No. 36 in the PIF ATP Rankings, dropped the opening set 4-6 after early backhand errors let the Brit seize control with sharp crosscourt returns. Over two hours and 15 minutes, he fought back fiercely, dominating the second set 6-1 and clinching the third 7-6(4) to hand Greece a 1-0 lead.
Tsitsipas’s backhand faltered under the hard court’s quick bounce, floating short balls that Harris punished with down-the-line winners. He leaned harder on his forehand, firing heavy topspin shots that pulled the opponent wide and opened angles for inside-out strikes. The crowd’s rising cheers mirrored his growing intensity, turning a potential upset into a hard-earned triumph that builds on his straight-sets win over Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in the opener.
“I got fed up losing matches like that [last year],” Tsitsipas said. “I lost one in September and I just tried everything in my power to not have the same thing happen again. I am grateful to overcome that. It had a crazy energy out here.
“I would like to congratulate Billy. He put up an incredible performance. I haven’t played such a high quality match in such a long time. He did great, pushing me to my limits. I think matches like that are great for the sport.”
Backhand struggles test early resolve
The Perth hard courts amplified Harris’s aggressive returns, exposing Tsitsipas’s backhand as a vulnerability from the first game. Short slices and flat drives from the Brit forced defensive scrambles, echoing the Greek’s tighter losses in 2025 tiebreaks. Yet, as the set wore on, he shortened his backswing on returns, using underspin to disrupt rhythm and buy time for his stronger wing.
This adjustment stemmed the initial bleed, allowing him to hold serve more consistently and level the emotional stakes. Harris played with the freedom of his lower ranking, but the surface’s true pace began to favor Tsitsipas’s deeper groundstrokes. By set’s end, the shift hinted at the mental fortitude that would define the match.
Forehand fire ignites second-set surge
Midway through the second set, Tsitsipas unlocked his one–two pattern—serve into the body followed by a crosscourt forehand—that pinned Harris deep and stretched the court. Heavy topspin arcs dipped low off the hard surface, forcing errors from the Brit’s increasingly stretched defense. The Greek’s net approaches added pressure, volleying short balls to keep points short and sharp.
Harris’s flat backhands kept him in rallies early, but the tactical pivot overwhelmed his positioning. Tsitsipas racked up winners, his forehand now a relentless force that reshaped the duel. This dominance not only erased the deficit but infused the arena with a surge of Greek support, setting up a decider charged with qualification implications.
Tiebreak poise fuels qualification push
In the third-set tiebreak, Tsitsipas steadied his serve to save a set point, then unleashed an inside-in forehand that hugged the line for a key mini-break. Harris countered with resilient angles, but the 27-year-old’s experience prevailed, converting match point with a down-the-line winner amid roaring approval. His 8-2 singles record at the United Cup now includes consecutive wins for the first time since Barcelona last April.
The victory lifts a psychological weight, transforming past frustrations into forward momentum for Greece. Maria Sakkari faces Emma Raducanu next, and her success would seal Group E and a quarterfinal berth. As Perth’s energy lingers, Tsitsipas’s hard-court rhythm signals a promising start to the Australian swing. Read more on the ATP Tour.
