“I felt like what I was doing wasn’t working,” Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals how he edged past Diego Schwartzman against all odds at Monte Carlo
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Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas has advanced to the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals after rallying from 4-0 down in the third set to beat Diego Schwartzman 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4.
The incumbent Monte Carlo winner appeared to be on his way to securing his spot in the final four in the second set, but Diego Schwartzman battled back from a set and 5-2 down to force a decider. The contest appeared to be going Schwartzman’s way as he took a 4-0 lead in the third set, but Tsitsipas stormed back to win the match in two hours and 45 minutes.
Stefanos Tsitsipas on things he did differently after brain fade moment in second set
“There was a moment in the match when I felt like what I was doing wasn’t working,” Stefanos Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview. “He had tremendous drive and momentum in what he was trying to do. I just tried to stay in the match as much as possible and that worked out really well. I wasn’t expecting much at that point that there would be a double meltdown, so I relaxed at that point.”
Both players were on fire throughout, entertaining the loud crowd at Court Rainier III with their shooting and quickness. Tsitsipas appeared defeated in the third set, losing 0-4 after losing nine of his ten matches after leading 5-2 in the second. The world No. 5, however, began to rediscover his rhythm, striking with even more width and spinning the top once more to win the match.
Finally, the Greek revealed that at one point he thought he had a good chance of “closing it out” and that he changed his tactics. “It was extremely close. I was close serving out in the second set. That was the moment I thought I had a big chance of closing it out. But Diego is Diego and I had to be Stefanos. It was kind of payback I would say.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas will now lock horns with Alexander Zverev in the semi-final
Tsitsipas, who won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 championship in last year’s event, is now two wins away from regaining his crown in Monte Carlo. The world No. 5 sent the 2019 champion mercilessly Fabio Fognini and Serbian Laszlo Djerry In his opening matches, he will compete in his ninth semi-final match at this level on Saturday. Nevertheless, Tsitsipas will face Alexander Zverev in the Masters semi-final on Saturday, with all four quarter-finals this year going to a deciding set.
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Pritha Ghosh
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