Greek Tennis Ace's Love Affair with Australia

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Stefanos Tsitsipas rallies his Greek Fans to support him in the Australian Open 2023 Semi-Finals.

After booking his fourth semi-final in Melbourne in five years, Tsitsipas has poured his heart out for his love of Australia and especially Melbourne. “I like many things in Australia – the people are very welcoming. I’ve said that so many times, and I’ll keep saying it because it’s very true,” he said.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open 2023 Greek City Times for Greek News at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Date: 24 January 2023. Photo Nick Bourdaniotis

“I know the French players have Roland Garros as their Grand Slam, the British players have Wimbledon, and the Americans have the US open. For me, the Australian Open will always be my home Grand Slam.”

It comes as Melbourne’s massive Greek community, the second most significant population of Greeks outside of Athens, has urged Victorians to climb on board the Tsitsipas bandwagon as he strives to win his first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.

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Greek Community of Melbourne president Bill Papastergiadis said Tsitsipas’s love of Melbourne was genuine and urged Aussies to reciprocate the support.

“What it means is that he considers Australia his home, and so it builds an even stronger bridge between two countries which are traditional allies that share similar values and ideals,” he said.

“We are countries with many bonds, and this guy is building an even stronger bond, saying he feels at home in either place.”

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Stefanos Tsitsipas at the United Cup 2023 Greek City Times for Greek News in Sydney. Photo Nick Bourdaniotis

This year Rod “Rocket” Laver has also been a big fan of Tsitsipas, attending his last few matches played at Rod Laver arena. Before one of the matches, Rod wishes Stefanos Tsitsipas the best of luck, as shown in the video.

Rod Laver wishes Stefanos Tsitsipas good luck for his tennis match.

Rod Laver is a former Australian professional tennis player. He is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, having won 11 Grand Slam singles titles and three doubles titles during his career. Laver is the only player to have twice won all four Grand Slam tournaments in a calendar year (1962 and 1969). He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.

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Fans support Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open 2023 Greek City Times for Greek News at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Date: 24 January 2023. Photo Nick Bourdaniotis

There will be plenty on the line when Karen Khachanov and Stefanos Tsitsipas face off in their Australian Open semi-final today at Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park.

Photo Gallery of Greek Fans in Australia

Australian-Greek tennis fans are always among the most loyal and devoted in the sport so turn out in huge numbers to support all their favourite players.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, who both have Greek heritage, felt the love last year when they teamed up to win the Australian Open doubles crown.

Show your support by taking your Greek flags to today's match.

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Photos Copyright Nick Bourdaniotis / Bourdo Photography for Greek City Times

Nick Bourdaniotis

Director of Photography

Born in Nambour, Queensland, Nick Bourdaniotis grew up in Brisbane till 2001 and then moved to Sydney. Nick's passion for photography began from a young age and his unique and artistic approach to capturing a moment in time ensures his images are always a standout. In his late 30s, his peers pushed him into being a professional photographer as he was taking amazing holiday photos from around the world and here in Sydney. In his mid-40s, Nick's photos were recognized internationally in the Greek community and used in international and local Australian-based publications. Photographing for St Spyridon College is when Nick took his first iconic global photo, the college's year 12 prefect students walking onto the opera house forecourt for the 25th March celebrations in 2015. For the next three consecutive years, Nick photographed iconic photos of the 25th March in Sydney that went viral worldwide. Mid 2016, Greek City Times employed Nick as a photographer. Over the next year, he earnt the title of Greek City Times' Director of Photography and Videography, which he still carries today. Greek City Times is a global media publication outlet. Nick also worked as the photographer for "My Greek Odyssey" TV travel show in Greece, which airs to over 50 million people worldwide. Nick was the lead photographer for the state funeral of the late Archbishop of Australia Stylianos and captured the funeral service and burial for archival and media purposes worldwide. Nick has been photographing significant events for The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia since 2015. In Sydney and Greece, Nick also captures moving moments in time for The Hellenic Incentive (THI), which in 2020 in Greece will work with the associated partners to document the homeless and various charity organizes THI partner within the incentive program. In 2019 Nick was asked to photograph an Australian fashion designer, Thessi Kouzoukas, from Sabba Shirts, which were amazing with Greece as its backdrop. Nick has been asked to photograph famous people, singers or entertainers because of his unique photography. In early 2020 Nick was a fully accredited photographer for the Australian Open tennis, in which he photographed the games of the Greek players and of heritage for publication in Greek City Times. Also, in 2022 Nick was George Kambosos Jr's official photographer at the lightweight world title fight in Melbourne, Australia. Nick's photos of The Greek Presidential Guard (Evzones) have been referred to as the best seen, and these photos have been published in books documenting the history of the Evzones. The most recent publication was the 150 years book of the Evzones released by the Presidential Guard Greece. Nick's versatility and professionalism have earned him an excellent reputation and a loyal high-profile clientele worldwide. Nick is not one to enter competitions or exhibitions as he leaves it up to his critics to judge his artistic unique way of photography. He has always said in his early 50's he will start to exhibit his work across Australia and aboard, as he has a few major exhibitions in the making. In 2021 Nick launched his photographic exhibition around Australia titled "The Evzones Collection" This photo exhibition endorsed by the Greek Presidential Guard and the Hellenic General Staff of National Defence has over 28 beautifully selected photos capturing and portraying the Evzones in a truly remarkable light. In 2023 The Evzones Collection photo exhibition will be exhibited in Athens and then around Greece. Nick's art uniquely evokes Hellenic pride with his images that are published all over the world.