Michigan State University Athletics
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Aristotelis Thanos Selected to Play in Davis Cup This Weekend
1/30/2023 3:15:00 PM | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Greece — Michigan State men's tennis freshman Aristotelis Thanos has been selected to represent his home country of Greece in the Davis Cup World Group I Playoffs this weekend on Feb. 4-5.
The selection marks the second time Thanos will compete for Greece in the Davis Cup, having played in Greece's 3-2 win over Jamaica in the 2022 World Group II Playoff last March. After Greece dropped the first two matches, Thanos' straight sets victory over Jamaica's Blaise Bicknell was part of a three-match comeback that propelled Greece from the World Group II Playoffs into World Group II in September 2022. Greece won their ensuing World Group II tie against Tunisia in September 2022, giving them the opportunity to play for a birth in World Group I this September.
Thanos will be the youngest member of a Greek squad that includes brothers Petros and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Stefanos, who currently ranks at No. 3 in the latest Pepperstone ATP Rankings, is coming off a runner-up finish at the 2023 Australian Open, falling in the final to then-No. 4 Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
The Spartan freshman will compete in doubles and singles play as Greece hosts Ecuador in Athens. Ecuador comes into the World Group I Playoffs having dropped their last tie against Switzerland last September, 3-2. Ecuador returns three members of their 2022 World Group I squad for this weekend's playoff.
Match play will begin on Friday, Feb. 3 at 2 a.m. ET (11 a.m. local time), while Saturday's matches will start at 3 a.m. ET (noon local).
The selection marks the second time Thanos will compete for Greece in the Davis Cup, having played in Greece's 3-2 win over Jamaica in the 2022 World Group II Playoff last March. After Greece dropped the first two matches, Thanos' straight sets victory over Jamaica's Blaise Bicknell was part of a three-match comeback that propelled Greece from the World Group II Playoffs into World Group II in September 2022. Greece won their ensuing World Group II tie against Tunisia in September 2022, giving them the opportunity to play for a birth in World Group I this September.
Thanos will be the youngest member of a Greek squad that includes brothers Petros and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Stefanos, who currently ranks at No. 3 in the latest Pepperstone ATP Rankings, is coming off a runner-up finish at the 2023 Australian Open, falling in the final to then-No. 4 Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
The Spartan freshman will compete in doubles and singles play as Greece hosts Ecuador in Athens. Ecuador comes into the World Group I Playoffs having dropped their last tie against Switzerland last September, 3-2. Ecuador returns three members of their 2022 World Group I squad for this weekend's playoff.
Match play will begin on Friday, Feb. 3 at 2 a.m. ET (11 a.m. local time), while Saturday's matches will start at 3 a.m. ET (noon local).
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
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