It hasn’t been easy for Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, but he has managed to win three matches so far this week. His reward is not only a berth in the semifinals of the season’s first 500-point tournament, but also a ranking of No. 5 in the world this coming Monday. Tsitsipas will leapfrog Roger Federer, who has not played in more than a year but will return at next week’s Dubai Duty Free Championships.
Tsitsipas continued his Rotterdam run with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Karen Khachanov on Friday afternoon. The Greek improved to 3-0 lifetime in the head-to-head series but needed two hours and 42 minutes to do so.
It has been a grueling week for Tsitsipas, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 after more than two hours during second-round action. He also has the doubles quarterfinals with his brother on Friday. Thus the grind continues following his battle with Khachanov, and it will only get more difficult against Andrey Rublev in the semis on Saturday.
“He was playing great tennis and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to compete,” Tsitsipas said of Khachanov. “I had an amazing 5-0 lead in the second set and that brought a lot of confidence into my game. We had great rallies and the quality of tennis was excellent. You need to stay as calm as possible in three-setters. I have won a lot in the past and with experience, it gives me an idea of how to play in these tight moments.”
There were plenty of tight moments in the second quarterfinal of the day, as well. Qualifier Jeremy Chardy was not about to end his productive stay in the Netherlands without a fight, and he threw everything he had at Rublev. Chardy saved two match points from 5-6, 15-40 down in the second set and forced a third before Rublev finally prevailed 7-6(2), 6-7(2), 6-4 in two hours and 39 minutes.
The world No. 8 struck 15 aces without double-faulting a single time. He was broken four times but made up for it with five breaks of his own.
“It was a really tough match against Jeremy,” Rublev assured. “It was a bit of drama in the end…. I will try as much as I can to be ready for tomorrow. Stefanos had two tough matches and now he has to play doubles. It’s not easy, but that’s the sport like this. We have to accept it.”
good match Tsitsi and Khach
Love the player comments. Sounds to me like theyve both been influenced by the great Rafa in terms of perspective & accepting what cannot be controlled. Smart of them to adopt the Stoic approach