Stefanos Tsitsipas produced maybe didn't produce the best performance of his career last night but it certainly was the biggest win of his so far. He exacted revenge on world number 3 Alexander Zverev winning 2 sets to 1. Along the way he saved 2 match points and survived an epic second set tie break which had so many swings in momentum you wouldn't like to have been betting man on either side.
Tsitsipas turns 20 years of age on Sunday, the day of the Rogers Cup final! Superstitious tennis fans may see this as fate that the teenage Greek freak is destined to to go through to Sunday's final to face the inevitable Spanish bull Rafa Nadal, unless the hard hitting Russian Karen Khachanov can pull off an upset. Superstition or not many would agree Tsitsipas has what it takes to overcome the big serving Wimbledon finalist Kevin Andersen after his dramatic win against Zverev.
Sweet Revenge!
Tsitsipas suffered a Quarter final defeat to Zverev (only 21 years old himself) in last weeks Washington Open and Zverev went onto to win that title. The Greek teenage sensation who ousted Djokovic in the previous round was clearly determined to put in a more aggressive performance than he did in Washington where he seemed to run out of steam and fizzle out. Most importantly on this occassion he didn't panic or give up after going a set down, he came out swinging so his victory much have felt even more sweeter after coming through so much adversity. I must admit I didn't think he had what it takes being only 19 years of age and with little experience on the ATP tour to beat a surging champion such as Zverev who has already claimed 9 ATP titles at the age of 21.
Big Second Set Comeback!
It looked like it was going to be a foregone conclusion mid way into the second set with Zverev establishing a 5-2 lead in games. But remarkably Tsitsipas dug his heels in and refused to go away managing to break back decisively in the 9th game when Zverev was serving for the match. Tsitsipas still looked rather composed and didn't seem to react to his break back. He eventually forced Zverev into a dramatic tie break consisting of 12 breaks of serve between the two and the Greek having to save two match points against the German! The tie break finished 13-11 to Tsitsipas.
Zverev was clearly frustrated with his lack of clinical finishing and smashed his racket on court in an out spurt of anger for cheaply conceding the second set.
There is no doubt Zverev will have those two missed match points still in his head going into Cincinnati where as Tsitsipas can feel buoyed by managing to survive a tumultuous second set before going on to win the match.
More Jitters in the 3rd for Tsitsipas
If anyone thought that Tsitsipas would come into his own in the third and establish any sort of stability on serve they were truly misguided. He had to save 5 break points in his second service game before he lost his third service game through a lack of discipline and some poor shot selections. Having gone 30 love up, Tsitsipas opted to try two drop shots in a row that were poorly executed and under the wrong circumstance. He allowed Zverev back into the game before he broke the naive Greek.
Another Swing in Momentum...
Again it looked like the match was going to finally go Zverev's way with him now a break up at 3-2. To give you an idea of how much Tsitsipas was struggling to hold serve up to this point he had played 100 points on serve in the match where as Zverev had only played 70 points.
A classic saying in tennis though is 'its not a break until you hold' and Zverev's celebrations of breaking were premature. Tsitsipas came straight back breaking Zverev to love. Three of the fours points were Zverev's own mistakes, first missing an approach shot, then double faulting and finally spurning a basic forehand well wide to gift Tsitsipas a break back. Zverev stood clearly disgusted with himself after such a cheap and crucial gift to Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas Stumbles Over the Finish Line
Zverev held his next service game far more comfortably than Tsitsipas and the Greek was it again in his next service game where he unconvincingly scraped through his service game to make it 5-4. But it was not a pretty sight, he had to save three break points along the way after many unforced errors. Tsitsipas hit himself into trouble and back out of trouble with a mixture of clumsy and brutally accurate forehands. Hi last forehand on game point was the best of them all with a rocket down the left that dipped viciously just beyond the forecourt.
Huge Misjudgement of Error By the Line Judge Helps the Greek
Zverev would have to hold serve to stay in the match and he looked as if he was sailing when he went 30 love up showing no signs of pressure. But then he suddenly hit a basic backhand into the net followed by the most controversial call of the tournament so far where the line judge called a winning forehand of Zverev's out when it wasn't even close to being so.
Then came a basic volley at the net that Zverev spurned way too long. In my article focusing on him and his older brother Mischa I mentioned how Zverev really needs to work on his net game. Ironically the teenager he was up against today already has a superior net game to Zverev's. Tsitsipas was 11 out 16 points at the net in this match and generally looks very comfortable coming forward in all his matches where as Zverev seems to always look clumsy and misses too may basic volleys. He could really do with taking lessons from his older brother Mischa who is a master at the net.
Zverev uncharacteristically cracked under pressure on match point spurning both serves long. It was a disappointing final point of the match but one Tsitsipas was happy to take.
Zverev Not So Gracious in Defeat
Unlike Djokovic who yesterday was a true gentleman in defeat Zverev was miserable and struggled to barely shake hands with Tsitsipas. I think Zverev has a lot of growing up to do with accepting defeat properly on court, one I am sure that will come in time. But perhaps he can take a leaf out of his younger counter parts books - Tsitsipas has a very calm and relaxed demeanour on and off court and we have yet to see him get angry.
I think this works in his favour and he clearly showed why today, the Greek teenager saved two match points but always remained calm throughout and never let his poor shots get the better of him mentally. He seemed to take the win in his stride although no doubt he is delighted with his best victory yet in his tennis career.
Watch the Rogers Cup Daily Round by the ATP World Tour
Can He Overcome Anderson?
Absolutely he can! Tsitsipas shifts around the court very well, he is 6ft 4 inches so just short enough to give him that extra bit of pace and adaptability. He also has a big serve like Andersen so he can definitely match him toe for toe. But he will really have to up his serve consistency if he wants to win in the Semi Finals. Andersen will not give away as many service games as cheaply as Zverev did today so Tsitsipas will have to remain focused on his own serve a lot more.
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