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Greek is two-time champion in the Principality
April 11, 2024
Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his rollercoaster win over Alexander Zverev.Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his rollercoaster win over Alexander Zverev.
By ATP Staff
Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a mid-match collapse on Thursday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where he recovered from squandering a 5-0 lead in the second set against Alexander Zverev to eventually advance 7-5, 7-6(3).

The Greek has produced his best tennis at the clay-court event, lifting the trophy in 2021 and 2022. For a set and a half he was on top form once again in the Principality in his 15th Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Zverev.

"I would call it an adventure of a lifetime," Tsitsipas said. "Something I am not faced with every single day and momentum shifted dramatically at some points. It went one way and then it went completely the other way again. I don't even know, I am trying to figure out right now what happened. I was 5-0 in the second set. However, things looked pretty good in the tie-break, especially when I got the mini break."

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Tsitsipas demonstrated great footwork to dictate on his forehand, forcing the German deep with his heavy spin and from 7-5, 5-0, the Greek looked on course for a statement win. However, from two match points up at 5-0, Tsitsipas started to misfire and Zverev took advantage, increasing his consistency from the baseline to rally to 5-5.

With the possibility of a deciding set looming, Tsitsipas regained his composure in the tie-break, raising his arms after sealing a hard-fought two-hour, six-minute victory. It is the first time Tsitsipas has defeated a Top 5 opponent this season, with the Greek holding a 24-16 winners to unforced errors count in the match.

"It is a big win. I am grateful I was able to play the way I did today. It took a lot of mental strength throughout the entire match. It was very consistent from the beginning to the end. I felt very dominant from the baseline," Tsitsipas said. "I was able to create pace and open the court, which helped me a lot. There is more tennis to be played, I am excited to see what the future holds. Today's match was a great assessment to how much I can fight in tough moments.

The 25-year-old leads the German 10-5 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series and will meet Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals.

Tsitispas arrived in Monte-Carlo at No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings, having advanced beyond the quarter-finals at just one tour-level event so far this season (Los Cabos SF). The 12th seed is looking close to his best in the Principality, though, where he holds a 17-3 record.

Zverev is a two-time semi-finalist (2018, 22’) in Monte-Carlo. Seven of the German’s 21 tour-level trophies have come on clay.

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ resurgence continues apace at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

The World No. 12 on Friday eased to a 6-4, 6-2 triumph against Karen Khachanov to reach the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Tsitsipas stayed rock-solid in the face of some aggressive early hitting from Khachanov before accelerating to an 83-minute triumph against an opponent just five places below him in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Having arrived in the Principality with a modest 11-6 record for 2024, Tsitsipas appears to have been galvanised by returning to an event where he lifted back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. The 25-year-old Greek will now chase his third championship-match appearance in Monte-Carlo when he takes on Jannik Sinner, a 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 winner against Holger Rune, in the last four.

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“I would lie if I said it doesn’t bring good memories stepping out on this court,” said Tsitsipas after backing up his third-round win against World No 5 Alexander Zverev in style by beating Khachanov. “It’s something that I attribute some of my performances here over time to.

“I come back here, and I sort of relive those memories of the past. It gives good feelings to me when I’m able to play in front of crowds like this and be able to try and strive for excellence with my game.”

Tsitsipas broke Khachanov’s serve in the opening game of the match and, despite then dropping serve himself in the next game, he ultimately delivered a strong serving performance to hinder Khachanov’s attempts to dictate on return. The Greek won 84 per cent (27/32) of points behind first serves, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to increasing his Lexus ATP Head2Head lead against Khachanov to 8-1.

Khachanov called the physio to work on his leg at 2-2 in the second set but continued to move freely until the end of the match. He was visibly frustrated after sending an easy overhead wide to gift Tsitsipas a break for 3-2, however, and he was unable to conjure a break point in the second set on his maiden Monte-Carlo quarter-final appearance.

“My returns were effective. I was generating a lot of pace and gained good momentum at some point,” said Tsitsipas. “He seemed good and well composed in his tennis. He wasn’t giving away too many unforced errors and seemed pretty calm from behind the baseline. I tried to do my part, which was to press as much as I could and not rush myself into the rallies.

“I was trying to predict and read certain things on the court and it worked out pretty well. I took my time once again to understand what works and what doesn’t and today I was persistent in my efforts to walk away with something good.”