Stefanos Tsitsipas came back from one set down to beat Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-3 after 2 hours and 28 minutes in their third clay court ATP Masters semifinal reaching his first final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
Tsitsipas got through to his career 20th ATP Tour final and his fifth title at Masters 1000 level. The Greek player has become the fourth active player to reach the final at all three clay court Masters 1000 tournaments after Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Last month Tsitsipas won his second consecutive title at the Mont-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Tsitsipas saved two of the three break poins he faced and converted three of the five break points.
Earlier this year Tsitsipas beat Zverev at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters last April, but the German player avenged this defeat with a three-set win in the semifinal at the Madrid Mutua Open. They are the only players to reach the semifinals at all three Masters 1000 tournaments on clay this season.
There were no break points in in the first six games of the opening set. Zverev converted the only break point of the set in the seventh game after a lucky net cord to take a 4-3 lead. The 2021 Olympic gold medallist held on serve with an ace and sealed the first set 6-4 in 50 minutes with a hold at love after a service winner.
Tsitsipas earned an early break in the second game of the second set to open up a 2-0 lead after two double faults from Zverev.
Tsitsipas saved two break points to hold serve for 3-0 in the third game. Zverev saved two break points in the sixth game, but he held on his serve at deuce with an ace to remain within one break deficit. Tsitsipas held serve at 30 in the ninth game to close out the second set 6-3.
Both players served well and did not face any break points in the first four games of the third set. Tsitsipas earned a break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead, as Zverev netted a forehand.
Tsitsipas held on his serve with a drop-shot and won his next service game to open up a 5-3 lead forcing Zverev to serve to stay in the match. Tsitsipas closed out the match with a break at love after a loose forehand from Zverev.
Tsitsipas set up a final against the winner of the semifinal match between Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud.
“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point. I am extremely proud of the way things turned around. I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time”, said Tsitsipas.
