Tsitsipas: ‘Aussie Greeks are the proudest people I know’

PHOTO: Stefanos Tsitsipas has in the past being invited at the Greek Centre in Melbourne with Maria Sakkari. Photo: Costas Deves

It’s been only a few days since Stefanos Tsitsipas arrived in Australia, but the World No. 6 is already watering the seeds of Tsitsipomania once again in the hearts of his fans Down Under.

His latest tweet posted on Saturday afternoon reads:

“Aussie Greeks are the proudest people I know. God bless them all!”

Tsitsipas’ connections with Greeks of Australia and Melbourne in particular is no big secret.

Suffice to remember the limited-edition “Tsitsipas Souvlaki” launched by a CBD Greek eatery last year, with the tennis star’s popularity serving as a means to the end of a good cause (souva sales were donated to bushfire relief).

The tweet sparked an array of cheers, wishes and positive reactions not least amongst ‘recipients’ of the compliment.

Comments varied from “Yia sou Megale” to a community member offering him “home made Cypriot food” while users also posted photos of fans from previous years of the tournament with banners praising the 22-year-old legend.

Another one promised: “Win the Open Stefano & we’ll rename it the Hellenic Open”.

Tsitsipas is undergoing his 14-day self isolation period at a Melbourne hotel as per the tournament’s COVID-19 protocol.

He is able to go out for five hours of training daily ahead of the start of the ATP Cup on 1 February and Australian Open’s on 8 February.

Colleague Maria Sakkari has been less fortunate, being one of the 47 players deemed close contacts of positive cases on Australian Open charter flights completing strict quarantine without permission to leave their rooms.