VIENNA (AFP) - Frances Tiafoe hit back from 3-0 down in the final set to shock top seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the Vienna ATP quarter-finals on Thursday (Oct 28). Tiafoe, 49 in the world, now boasts a 2-1 head-to-head record over third-ranked Tsitsipas after coming out on top at Wimbledon before the Greek star gained revenge at the Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old Tiafoe will next play eighth seed Diego Schwartzman, who defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2. "For me it was an important match. The only bad part is I cannot see Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow with Lionel Messi in France. I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Schwartzman said in his post-match interview, referring to reaching the French capital ahead of next week's Paris Masters. German second seed Alexander Zverev earned his 300th tour-level win by seeing off Alex de Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to also reach the quarter-finals. "This is definitely a massive milestone for me," Zverev said after firing 17 aces past the Australian. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Raducanu turns on charm offensive Related Story Tennis: Just a matter of time before I break through, says Murray
INDIAN WELLS, United States (AFP) - World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas was ousted in the quarter-finals at the ATP Indian Wells Masters on Friday (Oct 15), falling 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to the 29th seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili, who recorded one of his biggest career wins. Georgia's Basilashvili beat Tsitsipas for the first time in three career meetings and recorded his first win over a world number three player. He defeated Roger Federer en route to the Doha title in March, when the Swiss great was playing just his second match since a 13-month injury absence. Leading up to Indian Wells, Basilashvili said he had been working on polishing his serve. "I am not surprised. I have been playing good tennis for a long time especially in practices," he said. "I just didn't have the kind of first serve. It was missing. I had big minus in my serve. "I improved my serve a lot lately. That's why I'm in the semis now." In the final four, Basilashvili will play either Taylor Fritz or third seeded Alexander Zverev. Basilashvili had never won a round in Indian Wells until this year's tournament. Tsitsipas, of Greece, blasted 10 aces but made two double faults and was undone by unforced errors in the two hour, 10 minute match on the main stadium. Basilashvili jumped out to early leads by breaking Tsitsipas in the opening games of the first and third sets. He won four of the final five games in the third and clinched the match when Tsitsipas blasted a backhand wide. "I was under stress. My energy level was going up and down but I am happy with the way it ended and I kept my energy level up," said Basilashvili, the son of a Georgian national ballet dancer. "At the end I was really tired but I was physically able to stay on the court." Besides saving a match point to beat Federer on the way to the title in Doha, Basilashvili also won his fifth career title in Munich in May. After Friday's win, Basilashvili, said beating his hero Federer had been a springboard. "My win against Roger meant a lot to me because he was my idol," Basilashvili said. "Roger's win was very important in my career. Beating Stefanos today was as well, a really, really important match." More on this topic Related Story Tennis: US Open champ Medvedev ousted by Dimitrov in Indian Wells Related Story Tennis: Norrie cruises past Schwartzman in Indian Wells quarter-final
NEW YORK (AFP) - Third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas has been reduced to a US Open punchline for extended disruptive toilet breaks during matches, with victims Alexander Zverev and Andy Murray ripping him on Tuesday (Aug 31). German fourth seed Zverev, who accused Tsitsipas of getting improper coaching during his toilet break in a match at Cincinnati, went out of his way to hurl a zinger at the Greek star after a first-round triumph. After saying top-ranked Novak Djokovic is the favourite, he warned others are playing well, saying, "Daniil is in very good form. Stefanos can play well - if he doesn't go to the moon and back for a toilet break, that will also help. I had to, I'm sorry." Britain's Murray complained about an extended Tsitsipas toilet break in a loss to him on Monday, the three-time Grand Slam-winner noting, "It has never once taken me that long to go to the toilet, ever." Murray posted a tweet on Tuesday comparing Tsitsipas' seven-minute hiatus with the brief space flight of billionaire Jeff Bezos. "Fact of the day. It takes Stefanos Tsitipas twice as long to go the bathroom as it takes Jeff Bazos to fly into space. Interesting," Murray tweeted. Australian Nick Kyrgios brought up bathroom breaks in his loss to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, wondering why he incurred a time violation over retrieving a towel when there were "20-minute bathroom breaks" by other players. Tsitsipas defended his breaks, saying he follows ATP rules on bathroom trips. "I'm playing by the rules and sticking to what the ATP says is fair," said Tsitsipas. "I took my clothes with me when I left the court. That's the amount of time it takes for me to change my clothes and to walk back." Zverev said that while rules permit such pauses, it's seldom taken to such extremes. "You are allowed to do that," he said. "But it's like an unwritten rule between players." Zverev wants an end to the antics, which often stop a rival's momentum. "It's happening every match. It's not normal. Against me in Cincinnati was ridiculous and now here again," Zverev said. "He's one of the best in the world at what he does. I do not believe he needs to do that... These kind of things happen at junior events... but not when you're top three in the world." 'Very magical place' And Zverev still wonders about coaching in his match. "He's gone for 10-plus minutes. His dad is texting on the phone. He comes out, and all of a sudden his tactic completely changed," Zverev said. "Either it's a very magical place he goes to, or there is communication there." Murray said he has "lost respect" for Tsitsipas and Zverev agrees. "I do believe, and Andy said it as well, there is some level of respect that everybody needs to have between players," Zverev said. "He might just go to the toilet. That's also possible. But it just happens too often, I would say." Fact of the day. It takes Stefanos Tsitipas twice as long to go the bathroom as it takes Jeff Bazos to fly into space. Interesting. 🚽 🚀— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 31, 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Murray 'lost respect' for Tsitsipas over delay 'nonsense' at US Open American Reilly Opelka said he understands the need for long breaks, which often include changing from sweaty clothes. "It's ridiculous," Opelka said. "I understand it's getting press because tennis is lame and tennis media sucks and they're terrible. "We're hydrating a lot. We have to use the bathroom. To change my socks, shoes, my inserts in my shoes, shorts, shirt, everything, the whole nine yards, hat, it takes five, six minutes. Then by the time I walk to and from the court. "I don't know Tsitsipas, I don't know his situation. I doubt he's getting coached. Today, I couldn't even take my bag in to change. I'm like, 'Guys, my clothes and shoes are in here. You can come stand in here with me if you want.' I strictly go to change because it's hot and it's humid." More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Zverev glides into second round at US Open Related Story Tennis: Osaka kicks off US Open title defence with straight sets win
TORONTO, CANADA (AFP) - Reilly Opelka broke new ground on Saturday (Aug 14), edging third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to reach the final of the ATP Toronto Masters. The towering American, who turns 24 this month, will play on Sunday in the first Masters final of his career, taking on the winner from top-seeded Daniil Medvedev and big-hitting American John Isner. Opelka overcame Tsitsipas with 46 winners to 23 for the Greek. He blasted 17 aces in the match lasting two and a half hours to notch his first victory over a top-five opponent. "I've played great from the first round against a lot of adversity," said Opelka, who ousted Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round. "There are no easy draws at Masters 1000s, every match is a nightmare. "But I've got a lot of confidence going and I've carried it through each match. I'm putting pressure on guys with my serve and they can feel it. They know I won't give many free points away on my serve." Tsitsipas held his own until late in the third set, when Opelka broke for a 4-3 lead. The American finished off the upset three games later with an overhead smash on his first match point. "He prevailed, it just didn't go my way," Tsitsipas said. "But there is hope for next time, it's all right. "I struggled with my serve, it was obvious. When you get no rhythm it's difficult. It silently ruins your game. "There was nothing I was afraid of today, but I was missing shots in the rallies and missing opportunities. That's what cost me in the end." Tsitsipas, ranked third in the world behind Novak Djokovic and Medvedev, still leads the ATP with 45 match wins this season, with Djokovic trailing on 36.
PARIS (REUTERS) - Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat world number two Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on Tuesday (June 8) to advance to the French Open semi-finals for the second straight year and end the Russian's surprise run on the Parisian clay. The Greek got revenge for this year's Australian Open semi-final loss to the Russian, improving his Grand Slam quarter-final record to 4-0 with a 6-3 7-6(3) 7-5 win that teed up a last-four clash against Germany's Alexander Zverev. Medvedev, who squandered two set points in the second set, had not won a single match at the French Open prior to his run to the last eight this year. Yet having finally found his feet on the red dirt, he had few chances against the 22-year-old Tsitsipas, who has had a superb clay season so far. Tsitsipas, a winner in Lyon and Monte Carlo on clay this year, wrongfooted the Russian to convert his first break point for 3-1 lead as he comfortably held serve in the first set. Medvedev saved a Tsitsipas set point at 5-2 but the Greek wrapped it up a game later with a volley. Tsitsipas then won 11 straight points to break the Russian again early in the second set and cruise to a 3-1 lead. Yet his opponent launched a comeback, bagging his own first break en route to a three-game run. Medvedev improved his first-serve percentage and even carved out two set points but his opponent saved them to hold and force a tiebreak. Tsitsipas survived his second set wobble to clinch it with a volley on his first set point. The pair traded breaks in the third before Tsitsipas broke again, winning on his first match point following an underarm serve from Medvedev.
BARCELONA (AFP) - Rafael Nadal saved a championship point to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-5 on Sunday (April 25) and claim a 12th Barcelona Open title in the ATP’s longest match of 2021. The Spaniard secured his first title of the year and 87th of his career, denying Tsitsipas back-to-back triumphs following his maiden Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo last week. Nadal avenged his Australian Open quarter-final loss to Tsitsipas and will return to second in the ATP rankings on Monday by climbing back above Daniil Medvedev after his marathon 3-hour 38-minute win. “It means a lot for me to play the final here and win,” said Nadal. “I improved my level during the week and this trophy means a lot.” Nadal redeemed himself after a surprise quarter-final exit in Monte Carlo, but the three sets dropped en route to the title represented the most in any of his wins here. “It’s an everyday job, accepting the challenge, staying humble when sometimes you don’t play as well and you have to fight to find solutions every day.” No man has won more matches this year than Tsitsipas (26) but the 22-year-old has lost all seven finals at the ATP 500 level. “Rafa, bravo. How many is that, 28? 28 Barcelona titles is not bad,” joked Tsitsipas. “I’m really jealous. But you’ve earned it. You’re one of the biggest competitors in our sport, I’m sure you know that.” Second seed Tsitsipas, a Roland Garros semi-finalist in 2020, had won all 17 sets on clay this season and entered the final unbeaten on the surface in nine matches. The Greek built up a 4-2 lead in the opening set after breaking Nadal in the third game but dropped his serve twice in succession as the 20-time Grand Slam champion hit back to win four games in a row. Fifth-ranked Tsitsipas, who won just three games when the pair met in the 2018 final, again procured an early break in set two but Nadal responded to haul himself level at 3-all. Nadal failed to convert two match points as Tsitsipas clung on to hold when trailing 5-4, with the Spaniard saving three break points in the very next game. Nadal took a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak but the momentum swung back towards Tsitsipas as he won four straight points, blowing two set points before forcing a decider at the third attempt after a double fault from his opponent. In sharp contrast, the third set went on serve without a single break opportunity until Tsitsipas edged to within a point of the title with Nadal on the ropes serving at 4-5. Nadal survived though and finally converted his fourth break chance in the following game, snuffing out a Tsitsipas break point in the final game before clinching his 61st clay-court title. His 12 Barcelona victories are second only to his 13 Roland Garros trophies. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Rafael Nadal knocked out of Monte Carlo Masters by Andrey Rublev Related Story Tennis: Nadal, Djokovic miss the 'energy' with no fans in stands
MIAMI (AFP) - Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece crashed out of the Miami Open quarter-finals on Thursday (April 1), losing in three sets to Polish 26th seed Hubert Hurkacz. Hurkacz advanced to the semi-finals of an ATP Masters tournament for the first time after coming from behind to win 2-6, 6-3 6-4 on the Hard Rock Stadium's Grandstand court. Hurkacz will face either Russia's Andrey Rublev or Sebastian Korda of the United States in the last four.