Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas’ run to the final comes after ‘wake-up call’, says John McEnroe

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ impressive form at the Australian Open could have been inspired by the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and other youngsters stealing the limelight from him, according to John McEnroe.

The 24-year-old third seed will try again to claim his maiden Grand Slam title when he faces nine-time champion Novak Djokovic in Melbourne on Sunday and victory also guarantees him the top spot in the ATP rankings.

It seemed only a matter of time before Tsitsipas landed a major when he reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2019, but finishing as runner-up at the French Open in 2021 is the closest he’s ever gotten.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the Australian Open final after defeating Karen Khachanov in the semifinals

Tsitsipas (left) got a wake-up call from the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, says John McEnroe

Teenager Alcaraz jumped into the ranks last year by winning the US Open and McEnroe believes it was a shock to Greek Tsitsipas, who struggled in the majors last year after reaching the Australian Open semifinal a year ago.

“Maybe he got a little wake-up call when Alcaraz won the Open and became world number one and he’s a few years younger,” McEnroe told Reuters at a news conference hosted by broadcaster Eurosport.

‘Holger Rune is starting to make some real strides and some of the other younger players. It seemed like the guys who were expected to win as a group like (Danil) Medvedev, (Alexander) Zverev before he got hurt, (Dominic) Thiem and Tsistipas, there was a danger that it wouldn’t work out for them.

‘So I think there was a danger that (Tsitsipas) would not be forgotten, but not from the top level.

Alcaraz has come from nothing to surpass Tsitsipas and become the best player in the world

‘So I give him a lot of credit because he didn’t have great results in the majors last year. But there seems to be a positive energy coming from him that I haven’t seen for a while. And when his forehand works, he’s really great.

‘It looks really dangerous right now.’

Djokovic will start as a heavy favorite to take a record-extending 10th title and keep Tsitsipas waiting.

The Serb leads 10-2 head-to-head and says he is fully prepared for whatever Tsitsipas brings.

McEnroe (left) says Tsitsipas has come to life amid thoughts he wouldn’t be ‘top tier’

There aren’t many secrets between us. He knows my game, I know his. He has matured a lot, he is…at the top of his abilities,” Djokovic said.

“This is possibly the match of his life: he is playing for a world number one and a Grand Slam title, against me.

But I know what to do tactically, I’ve played some of my best games in Melbourne. I’m ready to go the distance: if it’s five sets, then it’s five sets; if it’s five hours, then five hours. I’m looking forward to it.’