Perth, Australia – Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered a crucial victory for Greece at the United Cup on Monday, overcoming a spirited challenge from Great britain’s Billy Harris.The hard-fought win at the RAC Arena places Greece on the cusp of advancing to the tournament’s quarter-finals, a stage they reached in the inaugural 2023 event. The United Cup, a team competition featuring top ATP and WTA players, is serving as a key preparatory event ahead of the upcoming Australian Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas powered Greece to the brink of the United Cup quarter-finals on Monday, battling to a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Great Britain’s Billy Harris in Perth.
The win gives Greece a 1-0 lead in their Group E tie and puts them one victory away from securing a spot in the knockout stage of the mixed-teams tournament. Tsitsipas, currently ranked No. 36 in the PIF ATP Rankings, overcame a slow start and a challenging opponent in a two-hour, 15-minute contest.
After dropping the first set, Tsitsipas found his rhythm, dominating the second and then grinding out a tight third set that ultimately went to a tiebreak. He demonstrated composure under pressure, securing the win and avenging past defeats that had clearly weighed on him.
“I got fed up losing matches like that [last year],” Tsitsipas said. “I lost one in September and I just tried everything in my power to not have the same thing happen again. I am grateful to overcome that. It had a crazy energy out here.”
Tsitsipas praised Harris for a high-level performance, adding, “I would like to congratulate Billy. He put up an incredible performance. I haven’t played such a high quality match in such a long time. He did great, pushing me to my limits. I think matches like that are great for the sport.”
This victory marked Tsitsipas’s eighth singles win in United Cup competition, improving his record to 8-2 in the event. It also represents his first consecutive singles victories since reaching the quarter-finals in Barcelona last April, signaling a potential return to top form.
Greece will look to close out the tie and confirm their quarter-final berth when Maria Sakkari faces Emma Raducanu in the second match of the day. A win for Sakkari would secure Group E’s top spot for the Greek team.
