Stefanos Tsitsipas’ grandmother spoke of her pride in her grandson’s achievements at the Australian Open in a touching interview from her village in central Greece on Wednesday.
Stavroula Tsitsipas, who lives in Proastio, near the town of Karditsa, heard the news on Tuesday of Stefanos’ advance to the Grand-Slam tournament’s semi-finals. The 20-year-old Greek player will face Rafael Nadal on Thursday.
“I cannot enjoy his success as much, because I am blind,” she explained in an interview published by the Greek newspaper Espresso.
“I consoled myself when Stefanos called me and said, ‘Grandma, I will come back soon, do not worry.'”
Stavroula Tsitsipas’ eyesight had deteriorated gradually for many years, and she has been completely blind for the last five years.
“I can’t watch on TV what he is doing. But I hear his voice, and I shed tears of pride,” the Tsitsipas family matriarch said with great emotion.
Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first player from the nation of Greece to make it to the quarterfinals of a major Grand Slam tournament, where he beat 37-year-old tennis legend Roger Federer.
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