Tennis News • Tsitsipas Stuns Nadal In Madrid Semifinals, Djokovic Defeats Thiem

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Dominic Thiem of Austria during their Mutua Madrid Open tennis semi final match at Caja Magica, in Madrid, Spain, 11 May 2019. EPA-EFE/Rodrigo Jimenez

 

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

Stefanos Tsitsipas secured his first-ever win over Rafael Nadal at one of the most improbable of locations on Saturday night.

 

On clay and in Spain, Tsitsipas upset Nadal 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to reach the final of the Mutua Madrid Open. The 20-year-old Greek broke serve six times–including three in the third set–while prevailing in two hours and 34 minutes.

 

“It means the world,” Tsitsipas said. “I’m really happy that I proved myself today. I played one of my best games this year. I’m really happy that I’m fighting, I’m in the zone. I’m enjoying tennis at its fullest potential. It’s really nice to be able to play this way. Today’s victory is just an unbelievable feeling.”

 

“The mental discipline and being tough and being decisive in all those crucial moments I think was the key. I had to take all those opportunities. Rafa is a fighter; he doesn’t give you free points. You’ve got to fight and give your best on every single point.”

 

“I didn’t have a good feeling today to do the things I wanted to do and that’s all,” Nadal noted. “I was clear what I had to do today, but tonight I wasn’t capable of doing it.”

 

Thus there will be no Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic showdown in Sunday’s final.

 

Djokovic preceded Tsitsipas into the title match by holding off Dominic Thiem 7-6(2), 7-6(4). Thiem led by a break in each set, but Djokovic battled back on both occasions to get the job done in two hours and 22 minutes.

 

“I played the best match of the clay-court season so far, for me, against arguably the best tennis player in the world on this surface so far [this season],” the top-seeded Serb commented. “[Dominic] had an amazing tournament in Barcelona and here he beat Roger (Federer) yesterday in a thrilling match. So he was in form…. I just managed to hold my nerves and play the best when it was most needed.”

 

Draw

Novak Djokovic…..d. Fritz…..d. Chardy…..w/o from Cilic…..d. Thiem
Stefanos Tsitsipas…..d. Mannarino…..d. Verdasco…..d. Zverev…..d. Nadal

 

Seeds

1. Novak Djokovic: vs. Tsitsipas in F
2. Rafael Nadal: l. to Tsitsipas in SF
3. Alexander Zverev: l. to Tsitsipas in QF
4. Roger Federer: l. to Thiem in QF
5. Dominic Thiem: l. to Djokovic in SF
6. Kei Nishikori: l. to Wawrinka in R3
7. Juan Martin Del Potro: l. to Djere in R2
8. Stefanos Tsitsipas: vs. Djokovic in F
9. Marin Cilic: withdrew prior to QF
10. Fabio Fognini: l. to Thiem in R3
11. Karen Khachanov: l. to Verdasco in R2
12. Daniil Medvedev: l. to Pella in R1
13. Borna Coric: l. to Pouille in R1
14. Nikoloz Basilashvili: l. to Tiafoe in R1
15. Gael Monfils: l. to Federer in R3
16. Marco Cecchinato: l. to Schwartzman in R1

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.