Federer shocked by Tsitsipas at Aussie Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):

Roger Federer's bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title ended in a surprising 6-7 (11), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (5) loss to 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas, the first player from Greece to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

The key statistic Sunday night: Federer failed to convert any of the 12 break points he earned. Tsitsipas went one for three in that category, getting his only break in the last game of the third set. At 37, Federer was the oldest man left in the field. Tsitsipas is the youngest.

This one was a thriller from beginning to end, both in terms of the high quality and entertaining style of play from both men - long expected of Federer; the world is still learning what Tsitsipas can do.

"I have massive regrets," said Federer, who failed to convert any of the 12 break points he earned against Tsitsipas.

This loss makes it a fourth straight Slam without Federer in the semi-finals: He skipped the 2018 French Open, was beaten at Wimbledon in the quarter-finals, and exited the U.S. Open in the fourth round.

That is his longest such drought since he claimed the first of his men's record 20 major titles, all the way back in 2003 at Wimbledon.

"Roger is a legend of our sport. So much respect for him. He showed such good tennis over the years. I've been idolising him since the age of six," said Tsitsipas, who has worked with Serena Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.