Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek to reach an ATP World Tour final since Nicholas Kalogeropoulos in 1973 (Des Moines) on Saturday, defeating Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-4 at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. "I couldn't have enjoyed it more, I went onto the court and enjoyed every single moment," said Tsitsipas, who will have a chance to become the first player from Greece to win an ATP World Tour title. "I am very proud of myself and also I believe I made my country proud." The 19-year-old is the youngest finalist in Barcelona since 2005 (Nadal) and will be bidding to become the first unseeded champion since Gaston Gaudio in 2002 when he faces 10-time champion Rafael Nadal in...
#NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas recorded the biggest win of his career on Friday to reach the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell semi-finals. The 19-year-old capitalised on lapses in concentration from World No. 7 Dominic Thiem, who consistently played deep behind the baseline, to win 6-3, 6-2 in 80 minutes. Tsitsipas, who is currently No. 7 in the ATP Race To Milan for a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals in November, will next challenge fifth-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who defeated second seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Thiem came with a point of clinching a double-break advantage for 3-0, but let Tsitsipas back into their third FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting of 2018 (Qatar ExxonMobil Open, BNP Paribas Open). Thiem hit...
The three Italians remaining at the start of Friday's quarter-finals in Budapest were on the verge of making history. But last year's runner-up at the Gazprom Hungarian Open, Slovenian Aljaz Bedene, spoiled the party. The No. 5-seeded Bedene defeated qualifier Lorenzo Sonego in the Italian's first ATP World Tour quarter-final 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in two hours, 22 minutes on Friday to reach the sixth tour-level semi-final of his career. The World No. 57 will look to advance to his fourth final (0-3) when he plays John Millman on Saturday. Millman reached the semi-finals after just one game of play on Saturday morning, serving out his delayed quarter-final against Yannick Maden to win 2-6, 6-1 6-4. Darkness had suspended their encounter,...
Australian John Millman let slip an upset opportunity earlier this year in Brisbane, where he squandered two match points against reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov. But the 28-year-old did not stumble with the lead in a big moment Thursday at the Gazprom Hungarian Open. Millman defeated top seed and defending champion Lucas Pouille, the World No. 14, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the best win of his career by ATP Ranking. The Australian moves into an ATP World Tour quarter-final for the first time since 2016 Winston-Salem, where he advanced to the semi-finals (l. to Carreno Busta). "Really happy with how I played, how I stuck with it mentally. I thought I took my chances well today," said Millman,...
Grigor Dimitrov drew upon his big match experience on Thursday in saving two match points to beat Malek Jaziri for a place in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell quarter-finals. Second seed Dimitrov saved two match points at 5-6, 30/40 and at 7/8 in the tie-break of the deciding set en route to a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8) victory in two hours and 50 minutes. Jaziri had previously earned his first Top 10 win against Dimitrov in February at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Dimitrov will next play fifth seed Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, who saved three match point at 5-6 in the deciding set – 30/40 and twice at Ad-Out – to defeat French No. 11 seed Adrian Mannarino...
