Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open 2023 Greek City Times for Greek News At Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Date: 24 January 2023.
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.
“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.
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.”
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 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.
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.
Photos Copyright Nick Bourdaniotis / Bourdo Photography for Greek City Times