GREEK TSITTING PRETTY IN ROME FINAL FOR FIRST TIME
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS has booked his spot at the Rome Open final for the first time.
The Greek overcame Alexander Zverev to reach a fifth Masters final, and his fourth on clay, with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 win.
This was the third time Tsitsipas and Zverev had met in a Masters semi-final this season, with the Greek losing to the German last week in Madrid.
Tsitsipas, who will rise to fourth in the new ATP rankings next week, will be seeking his third Masters 1000 title.
He overcame Zverev as he stayed consistent from the baseline and strong on serve throughout.
Zverev was clinical in the opening set with his first serve working like clockwork, but the German dropped a set for the first time in this year’s tournament as Tsitsipas raised his own level in the second set.
Tsitsipas struck first in the decider, earning a break to lead 3-2 when Zverev, 25, sent a forehand into the net.
The 23-year-old broke the Zverev serve again to eventually claim a comfortable victory as his opponent’s game went off the boil, with defeat meaning he has yet to win a title this season.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek took her winning run to 27 games by reaching the Rome Open final as she beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-1. The defending champion will face Tunisia’s
Ons Jabeur next.