I lost to a better player: Roger Federer after shock defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas
Melbourne, Jan 20: Roger Federer crashed out of the Australian Open on Sunday after a 7-6(11), 6-7(3), 5-7, 6-7(5) loss to 20-year old Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the Rod Laver Arena. Federer was looking for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles in Melbourne but was stopped by a rising tennis star, who was just 6 weeks old when Federer won his first professional match.
Tsitsipas produced a stunning display of tennis in front of a packed house in the Melbourne Arena and forced Federer into making errors. With his power strokes and exceptional and confident net play, Tsitsipas's gritty play earned him the victory.
Out of the 12 break points Federer had earned, he did not convert a single one and that shows exactly how Tsitsipas fought his way to victory.
"I lost to a better player who was playing very well tonight. Hung in there, gave himself chances at some point, stayed calm. It's not always easy, especially for younger guys. Credit to him for taking care of that," Federer said after the match.
Despite the fact that Tsitsipas was playing some inspired tennis, the Rod Laver Arena crowd was behind their defending champion and cheered each and every point Federer earned.
"I loved the crowd. I think they were fantastic. That there was an occasional excited guy screaming in the rally, that's okay. I'd rather have it that way than the silent guys who don't make a sound. It was good fun. I enjoyed it."
Federer has always been a fan favourite wherever he goes and as he waved his hand to the crowd while leaving the arena, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
It was a match between the oldest and youngest players left in the men's draw and the old guard fell.
Tsitsipas could not believe that he had toppled Federer, a player he had been idiolising since he was a little child.
"Roger is a legend of our sport, so much of respect for him. He showed such good tennis over the years. I have been idolizing him since the age of 6 and it was just a dream come true being on Rod Laver Arena facing him. Winning at the end, I cannot describe it," Tsitsipas said in the on-court interview after the match.
Roger Federer also confirmed that he is not looking for a long break again and will participate in the French Open this year for the first time since 2015.
For the last two seasons, Federer has been giving the clay court season a complete miss in order to get ready for the grass and hard court season post that.
2019, however, is going to be different. Federer will grace the clay again.
"It's a bit of a desire. I'm in a phase where I want to have fun and I've missed not doing it.
"I don't feel it is necessary to have a big break again," Federer said.
Federer also gave an insight into Tsitsipas's style of play and said a couple of aspects in Tsitsipas's play was similar to his.
"He has a one-handed backhand and I used to have long hair, too," said the world number three.
"Yeah, so maybe a little bit, sure. He has more of a continental grip than players nowadays. That's a bit more my way than, let's say, Rafa's way.
"I see him definitely being high up in the game for a long time. That was a good night for him tonight.
"I have massive regrets, you know, tonight. I might not look the part, but I am. I felt like I have to win the second set.
"I don't care how I do it, but I have to do it. Cost me the game tonight.
"There is always multiple factors that play into a match like this.
"But it definitely didn't go the way I was hoping on the break points. I also didn't break him at the Hopman Cup, so clearly something is wrong how I return him, what I'm trying to do."
.@StefTsitsipas has been idolising Roger Federer since the age of six.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2019
At 20-years-old, he's speechless ?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/VOe2cfhzP0
What an effort!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2019
Please don't forget us @rogerfederer! ?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ttj97ebHDI
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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Jharkhand horror: Man kills live-in partner, chops body into 40 pieces
Ranchi (PTI): A 25-year-old man, who works as a butcher, allegedly strangled to death his live-in partner and chopped her body into 40 to 50 pieces in a forested area in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Naresh Bhengra, was arrested.
The matter came to light after around a fortnight after the killing when a stray dog was found with human body parts near Jordag village in Jariagarh police station on November 24.
Bhengra was in a live-in relationship with the deceased, a 24-year-old woman also from Khunti district, in Tamil Nadu for the past couple of years. Sometime back, he returned to Jharkhand, got married to another woman without telling his partner anything and went back to the southern state without his wife to join her.
"The brutal incident occurred on November 8 when they reached Khunti as the accused who had married another woman did not wish to take her home. Instead, he took her to a forest near his house at Jordag village in Jariagarh police station and chopped the body into pieces. The man has been arrested," Khunti Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar told PTI.
Inspector Ashok Singh who investigated the case said the man worked in a butcher shop in Tamil Nadu and was expert in slicing chicken.
“He admitted chopping the body parts of the woman into 40 to 50 pieces before leaving those in the forest for wild animals to feast on. The police recovered several parts on November 24 after a dog in the area was seen with a hand," Singh told PTI.
Singh said that the woman, who was unaware of his marriage, pressured him to return to Khunti. After reaching Ranchi, they boarded a train on November 24 and headed to the man's village.
"Under a plan, the man took her to Khunti in an autorickshaw near his home and asked her to wait. He returned with sharp weapons and strangulated her with her dupatta after raping her. He then cut the body into 40 to 50 pieces and left for his home to live with his wife," Singh said.
The woman, however, had informed her mother that she had boarded a train and would be living with her partner, the police officer said.
Following the recovery of body parts, a bag was also found in the forest with the murdered woman's belongings including her Aadhaar card. The mother of the woman was called at the spot and she identified her daughter's belongings.
"The mother suspected the man behind the crime who after being nabbed by the police admitted to chopping the woman into pieces," the official added.
The incident has sent shockwaves among people in the region, with the Shraddha Walker murder case of 2022 still fresh in their memory.
Walker was killed by her live-in partner who chopped her body into pieces before dumping them in the jungle in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.
