Tennis news - Stefanos Tsitsipas underlines his promise with four-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvili

ByBen Grounds

Updated 18/01/2019 at 06:05 GMT

Stefanos Tsitsipas came through in four sets 6-3 3-6 7-6(7) 6-4 against Nikoloz Basilashvili to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the first time at Margaret Court Arena.

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The number 14 seed also overcame Victor Troicki in four sets in his second-round clash and he took the opener, but the Georgian transformed in the second to level after consolidating an early break of serve.

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Basilashvili recovered from 5-3 down to force a tiebreak in the third, but Tstisipas put a bizarre call from the umpire and line judge behind him to edge it 9-7.

The talented 20-year-old, roared on again by a strong Greek contingent at Melbourne Park, took a crucial break to move 4-3 up in the fourth, and he twice then held serve to confirm his progress.

Tstisipas will now face Roger Federer for a place in the quarter-finals.

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"It was tough and he pushed me a lot," he told Eurosport. "I was missing a bit more than usual, and his ball speed was a lot different to the rest of the players this week. I managed to stay patient and stay in the rallies.

"Mentally it was tough at times to deal with it. The conditions were a bit faster than usual. I was struggling at first with my serve but there was no sky - and things like that matter, even though it sounds stupid. But it worked out well once I adjusted.

Tsitsipas: It was mentally tough at times

On the controversial line judge call, he added: "I served a good serve wide, and to me it felt like the set was over. Suddenly, the umpire said the linesman had called it out. It was very late.

"It was very frustrating and it was one of those moments when it felt like they'd taken something away from me."

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