For the first time since 2019, there will be a champion other than Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Taylor Fritz defeated the two-time defending champion 6-2, 6-4 during semifinal action on Friday afternoon. Fritz completely dominated the Tsitsipas serve, converting four of five break points while advancing in just one hour and 10 minutes.
The third-ranked Greek had been the two-time defending champion in Monte-Carlo, with victories in 2021 and 2022. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic this tournament was cancelled in 2020, so there has not been a winner other than Tsitsipas since Fabio Fognini in 2019.
“I thought my level today was very high,” Fritz assessed. “I think I played a very good match. Beating him here gives me a lot of confidence. It has given me the reassurance I need to know I can play well on clay. I seemed to play well on the big points. I took my chances. I knew that if I played too safe he would be able to get around and dictate on the forehand. So even in the pressure moments, I pulled the trigger.”
Rublev ends Struff’s run
A spot in the final will come down to Fritz vs. Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Rublev won the first quarterfinal of the day 6-1, 7-6(5) over Jan-Lennard Struff. The world No. 6 got broken at 4-3 in the second set but steadied the ship to take the ensuing tiebreaker and prevail after one hour and 40 minutes.
“I was able to show a great level through the match, except some moments where I started to show emotions and started to get negative,” Rublev commented. “In the end it was a dramatic match, especially in the second set. But I was able to calm myself down and play a good tiebreak and I was lucky to win in straight sets.”
The Russian is 2-4 lifetime against Fritz and has lost three in a row in the head-to-head series, including two last year at Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Cincinnati.
“He’s a great player and a good friend,” Fritz said of Rublev.
nice one, Fritz