The 21-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas is a serious threat to the Philippine team’s Davis Cup hopes

Photo by Romain Lafabregue/AFP courtesy of Inquirer.net

Fresh off his runner-up finish to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Dubai, top Greek player and world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas is set to face the Philippines’ Davis Cup squad on Mar. 6 and 7 at the Philippine Columbian Association’s Plaza Dilao in Paco, Manila.

The talented 21-year-old hailed by many as one of the future stars of tennis announced his arrival Monday via Instagram Stories.

Tsitsipas is currently playing fantastic tennis right now, winning his fifth title at the Open 13 tournament in France and reaching the ATP 500 event Dubai Tennis Championships final before falling to Djokovic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Given his current form, the Philippine team will be facing a huge mountain to win this Davis Cup World Group II tie.

Philippine captain Chris Cuarto says that despite the odds stacked against them, the team will be “hitting back whoever shows up on the opposite side of the court.” But regardless, facing a player of Tsistipas’ caliber will be a great experience for the local team, which is comprised of 2019 SEA Games gold medalists Jeson Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara, Alberto Lim Jr., Eric Olivarez Jr., and Ruben Gonzales.

Tsitsipas will play alongside his brother Petros, Michail Pervolarakis, Markos Kalovelonis, and nonplaying captain Dimitris Chatzinikolaou.