Stefanos Tsitsipas has just turned 23, on the same day his childhood hero Pete Sampras turned 50. Tsitsipas celebrated his birthday in the best possible way with a rather straightforward win over Karen Khachanov (6-3 6-2).
During the press conference that followed his win in Toronto, Stefanos Tsitsipas was asked to comment about what he liked the most about Sampras.
Stefanos replied: “His flamboyant game. I enjoyed watching his serve-and-volley game. People say Roger Federer is effortless. I also feel like Pete Sampras was very effortless and just making the game so beautiful to watch.”
Stefanos also added that his love for Sampras came from his father, who also admired the American player for his Greek origins.
Stefanos added:
“Sampras was a player that he really liked to watch and he [his father] passed it on to me. Both of us grew up watching him. I grew up being given Pete as an example.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas will face the world no.12 Casper Ruud in the quarter. Their actual record is 1-1 (counting a match in futures).
Tsitsipas in Toronto, ranking, and results in 2021
Currently the world no.3 (career-high), the Greek has achieved a compiled 44-12 win-loss record in 2021. Tsitsipas is playing in Toronto where he conquered Ugo Humbert 6-3 6-713 6-1 and Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2.
Stefanos conquered 2 titles in 2021 in Monte-Carlo and in Lyon. Stefanos was the runner-up in Acapulco (Abierto Mexicano Telcel), in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell) and at the French Open.
The Greek won 7 titles in his career: 3 on clay courts and 4 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Roger Federer in 2021
Now ranked no.9, Roger played his last match on the 7th of July when he lost to world no.13 Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 7-6(4) 6-0 in the quarter in Wimbledon (draw).
Until now, during this year Federer has a 9-4 win-loss record.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roger Federer played each other 4 times. Their head to head is 2-2. Previously, the last time when they locked horns, Stefanos Tsitsipas won 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in London (Nitto ATP Finals) in November 2019.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
Ruud in Toronto, ranking, and results in 2021
At the moment ranked no.12 (career-high), Casper has a 37-9 match record in 2021. Casper is playing in Toronto where he bested Marin Cilic 6-3 3-6 6-3 and Dusan Lajovic 6-4 6-3.
Casper Ruud will compete against the world no.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter. Their record is 1-1.
Casper conquered 4 titles in 2021 in Geneva, in Bastad, in Gstaad and in Kitzbuhel.
The Norwegian won 5 titles in his career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of his titles)
