Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his quest for a third Monte Carlo Masters title on Friday, advancing to the semi-finals with a commanding victory over Russia’s Karen Khachanov, 6-4, 6-2.
Tsitsipas, a two-time winner of the French Open warm-up event, demonstrated his dominance over Khachanov, needing only 81 minutes to secure his eighth win in nine meetings with the Russian.
In the semi-finals, Tsitsipas will face Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner. The Italian avenged last year’s defeat in the semi-finals by defeating Denmark’s Holger Rune in a hard-fought match, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3.
Reflecting on his performance, Tsitsipas expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I was very effective from the start, I had a lot of pace and gained momentum.” He credited his strategy of applying pressure and highlighted its success.
Khachanov, who had defeated compatriot Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, struggled to find his rhythm and form against Tsitsipas. Despite receiving medical attention for an upper quad injury, he failed to mount a significant challenge against the Greek player.
In the second set, Tsitsipas capitalized on Khachanov’s errors, securing a crucial break to take a commanding lead. Khachanov’s frustration was evident as he struggled to match Tsitsipas’s level of play.
Tsitsipas acknowledged the significance of the tournament for him and expressed his fondness for competing in Monte Carlo. He emphasized the positive memories associated with the event, despite his ongoing quest for success at the French Open.
Meanwhile, Sinner faced a tough test against Rune, ultimately prevailing in a marathon match that lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. Sinner praised his opponent’s resilience and highlighted the physicality of the encounter.
Rune’s behavior, characterized by crowd interactions and complaints to the umpire, drew attention during the match. Sinner acknowledged the challenges posed by Rune’s antics but remained focused on his game.
Looking ahead, Sinner expressed his satisfaction with his performance and emphasized the importance of learning from every match. He recognized the valuable lessons gained from his experiences on the court.
As Tsitsipas and Sinner advance to the semi-finals, they remain focused on their quest for success in the prestigious tournament.
Reported By AFP.
