Playing a thrilling last set tie- breaker, Alexander Zverev defeated Jannik Sinner 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5) at the Monte Carlo Country club to reach his second semi-final at Monaco.
Both the players collectively producing 10 break points during the three hour gruelling match. Zverev managed to fight back twice from a break in the third set and finally forced Sinner for a battle in a tie-break.
After the match, the German screamed in relief. At the post match interview, Zverev said, “It means a lot. Definitely, especially with how this year has been going so far for me. I have lost long matches like that, so I’m happy I won this one”.
Recovering from 0-4 in the final set, defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Diego Schwartzman to reach the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals. There he will face German Olympic champion Alexander Zverev.
Leads were blown. Leads were restored. And at the end, somehow, @steftsitsipas' title defence in Monte-Carlo is STILL ALIVE 🤯
Up 6-2 5-2 then down *4-0 40-30 down* in the decider, the Greek SURVIVES 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4 vs Schwartzman!#RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/OPZTsf4r3h
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 15, 2022
After his win, the Greek said, “I don’t think I’ve ever made such a comeback in my career. It was crazy… I found the resources and I’m proud of it”.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alexander Zverev : Head to Head
Previously Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev has faced each other nine times. In all these encounters the Greek had the upper hand. Tsitsipas has won six times out of the nine.
The Greek and the German have met each other in:-
- Washington D.C. USA (2018)
- ATP Master 1000, Canada (2018)
- ATP Masters 1000 Madrid, Spain (2019)
- Beijing, China (2019)
- Nitto ATP Finals Great Britain (2019)
- ATP Cup Australia (2020)
- Acapulco Mexico (2021)
- Roland Garros, France (2021)
- ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati, USA (2021)
Alexander Zverev has only won in Washington, Mexico and Cincinnati. In all the other matches, Stefanos had the upper hand.
Who will win this time around?
Going by the previous statistics, Stefanos Tsitsipas has the upper hand between the two. He is the favourite between the two.
One cannot write-off Alexander Zverev also. He defeated the Greek in their last encounter in Cincinnati. In their previous two encounters on a clay court, Tsitsipas has had the upper hand.
The match is brilliantly poised. It would be a great for the fans around the world irrespective of the result.