All four quarterfinal matches at the Monte-Carlo Masters went the distance on Friday. The result is a semifinal lineup featuring Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Grigor Dimitrov, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
No winner had an easy time of it–and that’s an understatement. Both Dimitrov and Zverev required final-set tiebreakers to advance, while Davidovich Fokina lost the first set against Taylor Fritz and was six points from defeat in the second and then Tsitsipas came back from a 4-0 deficit in the third set against Diego Schwartzman.
At two hours and 25 minutes, Davidovich Fokina vs. Fritz was the shortest quarterfinal match. Zverev’s 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) victory over Jannik Sinner was the longest at three hours and seven minutes.
“It means a lot, definitely, especially [with] how this year has been going so far for me,” said Zverev, who has not yet won a title in 2020 and has reached only one final (Montpellier). “I’ve lost long matches like that, so I’m happy I won this one.”
Tsitsipas vs. Schwartzman wasn’t as long, but it was the most extreme roller-coaster ride in the quartet of thrillers. The fourth-ranked Greek failed to close out the match from 6-2, 5-2 up, including a service donation at love while trying to finish off the win at 5-3. Starting at 5-2, Tsitsipas lost eight of the next nine games. From out of nowhere, though, the No. 3 seed reeled off six straight games of his own to turn a 4-0 deficit into a 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 triumph.
His comeback included one of the shots of the year at 5-4, deuce.
“There was a moment in the match where I felt what I was doing wasn’t working,” Tsitsipas commented. “He had a massive lead and momentum in what he was trying to do. I just tried to stay in the match as much as I could and that worked out very well. I wasn’t expecting much at that point being a double-break down, so I relaxed at that point.
“I had a big chance to close it out, but Diego is Diego. I had to be Stefanos in the third set…. It was extremely close.”
That closing statement pretty much sums up the entire day in Monte-Carlo.
great day of tennis
The Schwartzman-Tsitsipas match was bonkers.
The unpredictability of our sport makes it worthwhile
I’d watched the Zverev match but was too tired and had fallen asleep during the Tsitsipas match. I have to watch the replay later on to see the ‘thriller’!
All four matches went the distance; watched the first three and was happy that Davidovich and Dimi made it to the SF. Fritz and Hurkacz played well too but too bad somebody had to lose. In fact all the matches were very very close and the ones who lost the matches could have won them also!
It’s a thrilling day for tennis! I’m happy to see that matches are so competitive to keep the spectators interested and excited. Of course for Rafa fans, with Rafa around would be even better.
Was cheering for Sinner, but that’s the life of a fan!
His day will come.
Wow…wish I could have been there!