Tsitsipas strolls into semifinals
Monaco, April 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday when his quarterfinal opponent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina withdrew after losing the first set 7-5.
Tsitsipas, the World No.5, will play his sixth Masters 1000 semifinal on Saturday, and his first in the principality, against Belgian David Goffin or Englishman Dan Evans, the conqueror of Novak Djokovic.
Struggling with an injury to his left thigh, Spaniard Davidovich tried an underarm serve when facing set point. Tsitsipas pounced to hit a winning backhand return.
Until he was hurt, Davidovich gave his Greek opponent problems.
But at 3-3, Davidovich called for the doctor to treat his left thigh. He immediately managed the first break of the match, as
Tsitsipas began to show signs of irritation, to the point of receiving a warning for swearing.
Tsitsipas immediately broke back and as Davidovich struggled, broke again to end the set and the match.
Earlier, Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday following an “awful performance” in a 6-4, 7-5 defeat by Dan Evans, while 11-time champion Rafael Nadal powered into the quarterfinals.
Nadal required just 55 minutes to demolish Bulgarian 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-1.
The third-ranked Spaniard is the highest seed left in the draw following Djokovic’s loss and the withdrawal of Daniil Medvedev after he tested positive for Covid-19.
Rafael Nadal will meet Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev. —