Flying Greek on cusp of Open title and world No.1 ranking

Has anyone ever played tennis as beautifully as Roger Federer? Yes. Stefanos Tsitsipas. He chases two dreams in one on Sunday night – his first major title and the World No. 1 slot.

Stefanos Tsitsipas stretches for a forehand against Karen Khachanov Picture: Michael Klein.

Stefanos Tsitsipas begins his Australian Open semi-final like a man who wants to ditch the scoreboard and concentrate solely on the beauty and poetry of his stroke play. Karen Khachanov settles into Rod Laver Arena as though he’s organised a long and complicated game of chess.

Has anyone played tennis as attractively as Roger Federer? Yes. Tsitsipas. For flair and flourish, he may even have Federer covered with his flowing Jesus Christ-style hair, his designer stubble, his looping figure-eight forehand, his swooning love-song service motion, his dancing feet and a single-handed backhand executed with the twirl of an orchestra conductor trying to get the percussion section to perk up a bit. His racquet looks like a natural extension of his arm during his 7-6 (7-2) 6-4- 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 triumph. A magic wand that melts into his right hand.

He becomes the World No. 1 if he wins his first major title in the Open final on Sunday night. “I like that number,” says the clear people’s favourite.

“I feel blessed to be able to play tennis at this level. These are the moments I’ve been working hard for. To be able to play in finals like this, finals that have a bigger meaning. It’s a grand slam final, I’m fighting for the No1 spot. It’s a childhood dream … I’m close. Let’s do it, guys! Let’s go!”

Freespirited. Instinctive. Tsitsipas’ style is easy to watch and yet difficult to play. The scoreboard gets in the way. Creativity and imagination can fly in the opening phases but when you get down to the nitty gritty of serving for a match, can you still be that brave and carefree?

Khachanov knows exactly where he wants to put his knights and rooks and pawns and bishops but there’s moments when Tsitsipas has too many moves and emotions and options to choose from.

He leaps to a 5-3 lead in the first set but then the scoreboard rears its head, reminding Tsitsipas that while all points are created equal, some are more equal than others. He twitches. Coughs up a double fault and then they venture into the great unknown of a tie-breaker. Tsitsipas is at his mercurial best, staying true to a brand of tennis as colourful as his shorts. Risks are okay. Misses don’t matter too much. He runs away with the tie-breaker like he thinks it’s funny.

Khachanov’s brow furrows. He sticks doggedly to his plans. Tsitsipas keeps swinging for the fences, shooting from the hip, flying around like a leaf on the wind. His ever-passionate father, Apostolos, shouts, “Focus! Focus!” Don’t wish that on him.

The point he plays at 4-4, 15-30, en route to breaking Khachanov’s serve in the second set, is as rapturous as tennis can be – dinks, lobs, topspin, slice, angles and then a thumping winner. He looks home and hosed when serving for the match in the third set but the scoreboard interferes once more. He loses the plot and drops the set. Nerve-racking stuff. Jeez, he makes hard work of it, but the result falls in his favour.

Sunday night will be quite the night for the 25-year-old. Two dreams in one are at his fingertips. “I dreamt as a kid to maybe one day get to play on this court and compete against the best players in the world,” he says.

“I’m happy with the fight I put out there today. I’ve been wanting for many years now to put Greek tennis on the map. I know it probably doesn’t mean as much for Australians because you’ve always been producing great players and also had your fair share of top players. But coming from a small country like Greece, I’m so grateful I get support like this. I would never have thought I would be treated so well here, so I’m extremely happy to be in a final now. Let’s see what happens.”

The upside for Tsitsipas? His best is magnificent. The concern? His jitters when closing out matches. The other upside? When things are going pear-shaped, he keeps finding a way to recover momentum and win anyway.

“I thought about how hard I’ve worked to get to this position,” he says.’’

“I’m happy that this opportunity comes here in Australia and not somewhere else. Because this is a place of significance.”