Stefanos Tsitsipas in great spirits after reaching Monte Carlo semifinal

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Top-ranked Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas was in great spirits after making the Monte Carlo Masters semifinal.

Tsitsipas, ranked at No. 5 in the world, won the first set 7-5 before rising Spanish star Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired the match due to an injury. 

At 3-3 in the first set, Davidovich Fokina took a medical time timeout to receive a treatment on his left quadricep. 

When the two returned to the court, Davidovich Fokina claimed the first break of the match to take a 4-3 lead. 

But his lead was short-lived as Tsitsipas bounced back with two breaks to steal the opener. 

“I am happy to be at the place where I am right now… I am happy with my performance today. I think I fought really hard. Even in difficult moments, I was putting out my best tennis,” Tsitsipas said in his post-match interview per the ATP website. “I saw he got injured in the middle of the first set and I took advantage of it [and] tried to make him play.

“It wasn’t easy, of course. There were certain moments which were a bit tricky and uncertain, but I stayed composed and imposed my game later in that match.”

Tsitsipas praised Davidovich Fokina 

Before the match, Tsitsipas insisted there was no way he would take Davidovich Fokina for granted. 

“[Alejandro] is someone who is just rising, he is young and has been playing good tennis,” Tsitsipas said. “I don’t know him very well, but he is a Spaniard. I feel like he has played on clay before, plenty of matches. He knows the surface pretty well, so he is going to be a challenge for me.''

After the match, Tsitsipas offered a praise for the Spaniard. 

“[Alejandro] is a player that has been doing really well and has a big game,” said Tsitsipas. “He proved himself this week in Monte-Carlo, beating good opponents.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32nOpl6

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