Stefanos Tsitsipas Archives

Two-time winner Stefanos Tsitsipas eases into Monte Carlos semis-finals

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas kept alive his hopes of a third Monte Carlos Masters title as on Friday he breezed into the semi-finals dismissing Russian opponent Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-2.

Tsitsipas, winner in Monte Carlo in 2021 and 2022, needed just 81 minutes to record his eighth win in nine meetings with an out of sorts Khachanov.

The 25-year-old Greek will meet the winner of the quarter-final between Holger Rune and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.

“I was very effective from the start, I had a lot of pace and gained momentum,” said Tsitsipas.

“I tried to do my part and press and it worked out really well.”

Khachanov had cheekily said to the umpire prior to the match “Are you going to stay focussed?” to which the official replied “Always, of course.”

It was Khachanov who should have asked himself the question as he rarely seemed to be and was way off the form he had shown in Thursday’s defeat of compatriot Daniil Medvedev.

The opening exchanges were messy from both players with three successive breaks of serve — Stefanos Tsitsipas breaking the run to open up a 3-1 lead.

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Khachanov finally won a service game of his own — to make it 3-2 — displaying a fine mix of power hitting, delicate touch and agility.

However, he required medical attention at the change over at 5-4 down, but returned to the fray only for Tsitsipas to serve out the set.

Khachanov, who seemed to be troubled by a pain in an upper quad, came under pressure on his serve at 1-1 in the second set — but he saved a break point and then held.

However, it was a very unhappy Khachanov who returned to his chair at the next change over as a series of errors gave his Greek rival the break at 3-2.

The 27-year-old Russian flung his racket angrily to the ground as he took his seat.

Stefanos Tsitsipas did not ease up winning 11 points in a row to surge to a 5-2 lead and served out easily for a place in the last eight.

He admitted the tournament brought out the best in him though it is yet to lead to him winning the big one on clay, The French Open.

“I would lie if I said it did not bring out the best in me,” he said grinning.

“There are many good memories and stepping out here and coming back here it revives those good memories.

“It brings me alive.”

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Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas race on to Italian Open semis

ROME: Third seed Daniil Medvedev and 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas powered into the Italian Open semi-finals on Thursday with comfortable straight-set wins.

Daniil Medvedev continued his clay breakthrough as he reached the final four 6-2, 6-2 over Yannick Hanfmann.

Greek Tsitsipas, the 2022 finalist, subdued Croat Borna Coric 6-3, 6-4 on a day when the French Open field was blown wide open by the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal.

The iconic 14-time champion, 36, cast a huge shadow over his future in the game, confessing that he did not know when he would be fit from a hip injury which has kept him off court since January.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has made big improvements in his clay game here after freely admitting he’s never been comfortable on the dirt.

He has shattered that stereotype with his steady progress at the Foro Italico, reaching his seventh semi-final of the season. Medvedev dominated number 101 German qualifier Hanfmann after settling in following breaks of serve in the opening three games in their Italian Open quarter-final.

After going down a break in the second set, the 31-year-old Hanfmann complained to his coaching box that he had no legs left as he played on prior to losing serve for the fifth time in the match.

But he struck back briefly with a break of the seed to hold on for 2-4 before dropping serve again as Medvedev moved into winning position, closing it out on a second match point.

“All of the courts are pretty different here, it was not easy to adapt for both of us,” Medvedev said.

“But I managed to adapt better. I’m really happy about it. A win is a win. Not counting the serve, I played well, returned well, moved well.

“I’m looking forward to the next round.”

Prior to this edition, Daniil Medvedev had never won a match in Italian Open and had little confidence in his game on the clay. He is now into the final four after four victories and the loss of just one set.

“Against Hanfmann I wanted to put as many balls into the court as possible. He plays very aggressive. I played deep to try and make him miss — and maybe he was not playing his best match.

“He was struggling more than me. I’m glad I was able to neutralise his game.”

Medvedev also increased his lead in Tour match wins as he claimed his 37th of the season.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was meanwhile dominant against Coric after losing to the Croat in three of five matches, including here in 2018 and in last summer’s Cincinnati final.

Stefanos Tsitsipas secured the opening set with a break and took a 2-1 lead in the second. But two double-faults contributed as he dropped serve for 4-4 only to break straight back and serve out victory a game later.

“These night sessions are becoming very fun,” the fifth seed said.

“This is clay and things can escalate very quickly,” he said of his stutter near the end.

“I managed my shotmaking at the important moments and was able to retrieve (the momentum) at the end.

“I felt the energy point by point.”

Tsitsipas and Medvedev have played 12 times to date with the latter leading 7-4.

“He’s playing well and I’m also feeling good on court. I hope he brings out the best in me — good preparation and off we go,” said Tsitsipas.

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Tsitsipas in dreamland after reaching first Australian Open final

MELBOURNE: Stefanos Tsitsipas said he was living the dream after reaching the Australian Open final Friday for a first time and standing on the cusp of becoming world number one.

The Greek third seed showed grit to defeat Russia’s Karen Khachanov and set up a final against either nine-time Melbourne champion Novak Djokovic or American Tommy Paul.

The 18th-seeded Khachanov threatened a comeback after saving two match points to force the semi-final into a fourth set, before Tsitsipas triumphed 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3.

Tsitsipas can top the world rankings if he wins his first Grand Slam crown on Sunday.

“I dreamed as a kid to maybe one day get to play in this court against the best players in the world,” Tsitsipas told a sunny Rod Laver Arena after winning an Australian Open semi-final at the fourth attempt.

“So I’m happy with the fight I put out there today. I feel blessed, blessed that I’m able to play tennis at this level.

“I’ve been wanting for many years now to put Greek tennis on the map.”

At 24, Tsitsipas is the youngest man to reach the Australian Open final since a 23-year-old Djokovic in 2011.

Tsitsipas has thrived in Melbourne throughout his career, after bursting on the scene at the 2019 event as a 20-year-old when he dethroned defending champion Roger Federer in the last 16.

He went on to reach the semi-finals that year and again in 2021 and 2022, falling one match short on each occasion.

A Grand Slam crown has remained elusive, with his runner-up showing at Roland Garros in 2021 his best result so far, falling to Djokovic in five sets after holding a 2-0 lead.

‘Couldn’t be more ready’

A confident Tsitsipas opened with a serve to love and applied early pressure, earning a break in game four when US Open semi-finalist Khachanov made a baseline error.

But the advantage didn’t last, with the 26-year-old Russian immediately striking back to level it up when Tsitsipas netted a forehand.

The Greek star was unrelenting on the forehand and forced another break for a 5-3 lead, only for Khachanov to again roar back.

It went to a tiebreak, with Tsitsipas quickly wrapping it up.

Khachanov repelled three break points early in a second set which went with serve until Tsitsipas earned another two after a 22-shot rally at 4-4, and this time he made no mistake.

With the bit between his teeth, the world number four ramped up the pressure to secure a break for 2-1 in the third set, then consolidated.

Khachanov looked down and out but in a late twist broke back when Tsitsipas — two points from victory — sent an overhead volley wide as he served for the match.

It propelled the third set to another tiebreak, where the Greek worked two match points on serve, but failed to convert and the Russian pulled out of the mire to drag it to a fourth set.

Tsitsipas quickly snuffed out any chance of a comeback as he reasserted his dominance to seal a spot in the final.

Afterwards, Tsitsipas struck a confident tone — no matter who he meets in the final.

“Couldn’t be more ready for this moment,” said the Greek, who has enjoyed strong support from Melbourne’s large Greek population.

“I’m playing great tennis. I’m enjoying myself. I just see no downside or negativity in what I’m trying to do out there,” he added.

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Tsitsipas battles past Dimitrov at inaugural United Cup

PERTH: Stefanos Tsitsipas fired his 12th ace on match point to give Greece a 2-0 lead over Bulgaria with a comeback win against Grigor Dimitrov on Thursday at the inaugural United Cup.

The world number four recovered smoothly after losing the opening set to emerge with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory in his season-opening match at Perth ahead of the Australian Open.

Greek teammate Despina Papamichail, ranked 158th, gave her country the opening point as she defeated a cramping Isabella Shinikova, also finishing with a fightback to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The mixed teams tournament features 18 countries playing in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, with each tie consisting of two men’s and two women’s singles rubbers along with a mixed doubles.

Tsitsipas lifted in the final-set tiebreaker against an opponent he has now defeated in six of their seven matches.

“It was extremely close, but I’ll take it,” he said. “It was a good effort from my side.

“It was tough playing in the heat — I’m glad they closed the roof. I had to hang in there and fight, Grigor can compete with the best in the world.

“But I found a little gap and gave myself the chance to do something in the tiebreak.”

In Sydney, American world number nine Taylor Fritz and 11th-ranked Madison Keys cruised through their opening ties against the Czech Republic to also get their seasons off to a winning start.

Fritz got his country away to a flyer with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over world number 74 Jiri Lehecka at Ken Rosewall Arena before Keys saw off Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-3.

The 25-year-old Fritz had a breakthrough year in 2022, beating 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the final at Indian Wells to go with titles in Tokyo and Eastbourne.

He burst into the top 10 in 2022, reaching a career-high eight in October.

Fritz had too much firepower for Lehecka, facing only two break points on his way to a comfortable 75-minute win.

The American admitted he had felt some nerves before the match.

“It was the first match of the season and also playing a team event as well adds to it (the nerves),” he said.

“I think in the beginning of the match I handled it much better than maybe my opponent did. I got the early break, then kind of just held on to it.”

Keys, who made the Australian Open semi-finals this year, came back from an early break of serve in both sets to see off Bouzkova.

The former US Open finalist overpowered her Czech opponent from the baseline, taking full advantage of the quick conditions on centre court.

In Brisbane action, Italy and Brazil were locked at one rubber apiece. Beatriz Haddad Maia, the Brazilian world number 15, was far too strong for Martina Trevisan, dropping just two games on her way to a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

“I worked very hard in the pre-season to be as ready as I could today,” Haddad Maia said

Lorenzo Musetti levelled the tie at one-all when he downed Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4.

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Tsitsipas fights back against Rublev to reach Astana final

ASTANA: Stefanos Tsitsipas set up a final against either Novak Djokovic or Daniil Medvedev with a come-from-behind victory against Andrey Rublev in Astana on Saturday.

The Greek third seed won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach his sixth final of the season.

On Sunday he will face the winner of the second semi-final between Wimbledon champion Djokovic and former world number one Medvedev.

A break in the opening game of the match proved enough to give fifth seed Rublev the first set.

But Tsitsipas, who saved five of six break points in the match, improved as the tie went on and he made his move in the 10th game of the second set to force a decider.

The 24-year-old was rock solid again in the third, wrapping up victory after two hours and 10 minutes to take his head-to-head record against Rublev to 6-4.

Medvedev returns to final four in Cincinnati, Rybakina out

CINCINNATI: Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to a semi-final showdown after both dismissed American opponents at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Friday.

Top seed Medvedev fired 18 aces among 30 winners in a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 defeat of Taylor Fritz in their Friday quarter-final.

Tsitsipas, semi-finalist at the last two editions, weathered a brief first-set rain interruption on the way to his 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-3, the defeat of John Isner, playing here for the 15th time at age 37 and the oldest quarter-finalist since 1969.

In the bottom half of the draw, Croat Borna Coric crushed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 to set up a semi-final against Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who had to work for more than three hours for a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 defeat of Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz.

The tight battle ended just before midnight as Norrie completed what he called one of his best career wins.

He stumbled leading a set and 4-1 as Alcaraz pushed back, winning the second set to level the match.

“I was thinking too much about the finish line,” the winner said. “I got tight and he raised his level.

“I had to take my time or the match could have gotten away from me…I managed to turn it around.”

Greek fourth seed Tsitsipas was relieved to have passed his examination by Isner.

“It’s never easy to play him, due to all his variations of play,” Tsitsipas said. “The most important thing is to stay patient.

“The match came down to a few points. I was able to hang in there and make one more ball – he didn’t give me a lot to work with.”

Tsitsipas added: “Against Medvedev, I need to be concentrated and approach my game in a precise manner. “I will let my tennis do the talking.”

Medvedev, the 2019 tournament winner, strengthened his grip on the world number one ranking at the last major tune-up prior to the US Open, earning his victory over 11th seed Fritz in one hour, 40 minutes.

“The second set was much better than the first,” Medvedev said. “Taylor is a great player, from the baseline he didn’t give you much space. “He was hitting the ball strong, making a lot of good points. “But I’m happy with my level. If I can continue to play this way and raise my level during matches I can beat anybody,” added Medvedev, who leads semi-final opponent Tsitsipas 7-2 in head-to-head meetings.

In the women’s quarter-finals, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina saved three match points before falling 6-2, 6-4 to Madison Keys.

The Kazakh, who lifted the All England Club trophy last month against the odds, exited the pre-US Open event in 92 minutes as she went down to the American titleholder from 2019.

“Elena is a remarkable player who can turn a match around at any moment,” unseeded Keys said. “I needed to stay out front.

“It felt like I needed 12 match points, so I’m very happy to get the win,” added Keys who on Thursday ousted world number one Iga Swiatek.

Keys next plays Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who defeated Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-3.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka ended the dream run of Zhang Shuai with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), defeat after the Chinese player had put out Naomi Osaka and second seed Anett Kontaveit.

Sabalenka plays for the final against qualifier Caroline Garcia, who defeated American Jessica Pegula, the winner over US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the previous round, 6-1, 7-5 in 74 minutes.

The French winner leads the Tour with 25 main-draw victories since June; she was the first from her nation to play a Cincinnati quarter-final since Marion Bartoli 12 years ago.

“I had the worst warmup of the week today,” Garcia said. “But that doesn’t mean you will play badly. “I was able to play the aggressive style that I like. I hit very freely against a solid opponent.

“I had to play my best today to beat Jessica. I did it and I’m very happy I got the win.”

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Tsitsipas sinks brave Ritschard, storms into Wimbledon second round

LONDON: The fifth-ranked Tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas wriggled out of a shocker to claim his first triumph in the Wimbledon 2022 by defeating Alexander Ritschard 7-6(1) 6-3 5-7 6-4.

The newcomer Ritschard started his Wimbledon campaign on a high and enjoyed a delightful first 15 minutes as he pulled ahead with a 4-1 lead in the first set.

The Greek seemed to have agitated by himself and after a brief prep talk with himself produced an astounding recovery by winning the next four games to lead for the first time in the match.

The Swiss Ritschard’s survival skills then let him down in the tiebreaker and allowed the veteran to claim the first set.

Following a hard-fought first set, the second remained a formality for the Greek as he displayed sheer dominance over the 188th-ranked opponent and moved within one to the victory.

The third set again witnessed a see-saw battle between the two but it was the Swiss this time around as he held his nerves calm to claim his first set after blasting a forehand down the line to take the contest into a fourth.

Ritschard’s celebration, however, was cut short by Tsitsipas as he sealed another dominant set to claim his first-round victory in the Wimbledon.

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Tsitsipas edge pasts Kolar in the second round of the French Open

PARIS: Greek Tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas had to dig deep once again to clinch the victory in the ongoing French Open as Zdenek Kolar kept the former involved in another slugfest.

The fourth-ranked tennis player Tsitsipas held his nerves calm to blunt the 134th-ranked Kolar by 6-3, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (7) just past the four hours mark.

The youngster showed great determination and grit as he tested the resilience of his better-ranked opponent but missed out on the fourth set to force a fifth as Tsitsipas levelled the last tiebreaker at 6-6 before closing out the match.

The Greek started off strongly as he claimed the first set in just 35 minutes. Kolar, on the other hand, responded quickly and took a 4-1 lead only for Tsitsipas to level his ante up and force a tiebreaker. The former, in the end, managed to claim the second set after a long tiebreaker.

Kolar, however, kept himself in the hunt as he showed character to cut the lead to 2-1 as he forced the fourth set after claiming the tiebreaker in the third 7-6(3).

The fourth set of the match followed the same pattern as both remain indulged in another see-saw battle but Tsitsipas clinched the victory by claiming a second tiebreaker overall.

Tsitsipas will now lock horns with the 95th-ranked Mikael Ymer of Sweden for a place in the fourth round of the tournament.

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Tsitsipas roars back to thump Musetti in the first round of the French Open

PARIS: The Greek Tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas engineered his third comeback from two sets down to edge past his Italian opponent Lorenzo Musetti in the first round of the ongoing French Open on Tuesday.

The fourth-seeded Greek started well but had to dig deep in the end for a 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Musetti.

The finalist of the recently concluded Italian Open produced another exceptional comeback in the opening round of the French Open. The Greek has previously made two exceptional comebacks against Jaume Munar in September 2020 and against the Spaniard Rafael Nadal at the 2021 Australian Open.

For the second time at the French Open, Musetti, 20, had a tournament favourite on the verge of elimination. In the fourth round of the 2021 tournament, he won two tie-breaks to take control of the match against then-champion Novak Djokovic, but he lost the momentum late in the match.

Musetti, on this occasion, gave Tsitsipas more scare by recovering from an early break in the fourth set, but he never got close to a knockout punch.

With this victory, Tsitsipas advances to face Czech qualifier Zdenek Kolar, who defeated France’s Lucas Pouille 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 earlier on Tuesday.

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