Tsitsipas Hopes ‘Home’ Comforts of Melbourne Will Bring Out the Best in Him

 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
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Tsitsipas Hopes ‘Home’ Comforts of Melbourne Will Bring Out the Best in Him

 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)

Former Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes a return to his "home" Slam at Melbourne Park can spark an upturn in his fortunes after an inconsistent 2024 saw the Greek drop out of the top 10.

Tsitsipas won his third Masters title in Monte Carlo in April but other than that found success hard to come by, finishing the year ranked 11th.

Melbourne has the largest population of Greek speakers outside Greece and Cyprus and 2023 Australian Open finalist Tsitsipas is confident he will have huge support in his latest bid for a first Grand Slam title.

"I'm really glad to be back to Melbourne," he told reporters on Saturday.

"I can't wait to start the Australian Open, which I've said is my home Slam. It's a great opportunity to be playing on these courts, to be receiving the crowd support I have been receiving over the last few years.

"I just hope my tennis blends in well with the rest of the crowd and I'm going to be able to really perform at my highest level and bring that tennis I've shown in the last few years."

The 26-year-old former French Open runner-up said his game flourished when he was in his comfort zone.

"It makes a big difference in terms of feeling on court," Tsitsipas added.

"When I travel around the world and play in different places, I have seemed to be connecting more with the European kind of vibe. I haven't had great success in the US.

"Travelling so far overseas and having that feeling of home allows me to feel good within my comfort zone. That's also why my tennis thrives and I feel better with my game."

Tsitsipas plays American Alex Michelsen in his opener at the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday.



Monaco's Musrati Gets Shown a Quick Red Card in Loss to Benfica

Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz
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Monaco's Musrati Gets Shown a Quick Red Card in Loss to Benfica

Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz

Monaco midfielder Al Musrati got a harsh-looking red card from referee Maurizio Mariani early in the second half of a Champions League playoff first leg against Benfica on Wednesday.
Monaco was trailing at the time to a goal from striker Vangelis Pavlidis and ended up losing the game 1-0.
Mariani showed him a second yellow card and sent him off in the 52nd minute, seemingly because Musrati appeared to contest his decision after Alvaro Carreras had fouled Monaco striker Breel Embolo. He pushed Embolo to the ground from behind when they jostled for the ball and a foul was given to Monaco, The Associated Press reported.
Television replays showed that Musrati quickly wagged his right hand as if to demand a yellow card — which in itself is grounds for a yellow card.
Musrati did not appear aggressive or even to say much at all, but within one second Mariani had brandished the second yellow and ordered him off — much to the despair of the Libya international.
Monaco coach Adi Hütter was upset by the decision, saying that Musrati had acted calmly, and also by a late yellow card shown to captain Denis Zakaria — thus ruling him out of the return leg next Tuesday.
“I didn’t see him walk to the referee. The only thing what he said maybe was ‘It could be a yellow card,’” Hütter said. “Yes these are the rules we have to accept, but he was not aggressive right? And when you see the second yellow card of Zakaria, he is suspended. These are harsh yellow cards.”
Monaco left back Krépin Diatta also felt the red card was unfair.
“I think everyone saw for themselves," he said. “He wasn't angry and he was calm toward the referee. Sometimes it's too severe.”