TURIN | It was another hard-fought one-night stand in this ATP final, similar to the day before between Félix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz. And in the end it was Andrey Rublev who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 3: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 2.
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The Russian, sixth favorite in Turin, therefore meets the Norwegian Casper Ruud (3rd) in the semifinals today at around 3 p.m. Quebec time.
What stood out in this duel beyond the game and the result were the Greek’s clearly disappointed words at a press conference.
“Too bad, he fell. I felt like I was the best player on the pitch [hier]. I felt like I could be more creative. I don’t even have to say it, I think it was pretty obvious.”
“But yes, he has prevailed with the few tools he has,” Tsitsipas continued. He was really able to take advantage of that and win.”
Rublev’s analysis
“The few tools he has.” This statement, in a sport where players have become accustomed to throwing flowers at each other even when they don’t deserve it, was shared with the winner of the day by a journalist who noted that “such honesty was rare”.
And that made the Russian analyze his game and Tsitsipas’s.
“I don’t know if I only have a few tools or not. But when we play shot by shot I think his backhand is better than mine. But not his forehand. His serve is not faster. But he’s faster,” said Rublev.
Often tight games
The 25-year-old athlete is a good player but stressed that “obviously [Tsitsipas] is better than me He has achieved better results in his career. It’s clear, there’s no doubt about it.”
But the Russian returned it by recalling that their clashes were often close.
“Only in the final in Monte Carlo did he play very well and demolished me [6-3 et 6-3, en 2021].”
For the record, Rublev and Tsitsipas faced each other yesterday for the 11th time in their careers. The Greek was the best six times.
And aside from their two Grand Slam clashes and the final of the 2018 Next Gen tournament, only three of their confrontations have been in straight sets.
The Russian has won two of the three.
Despite this meager tool kit, his rival says, Rublev managed his first qualification for the semi-finals of the season-ending championship at the third attempt yesterday.
After a first round in which he multiplied unforced errors – 12 in total – the Muscovite bounced back in second and didn’t let up.
Breaking the final set in game two, Tsitsipas eventually offered him victory on a silver platter by committing two fatal double faults on his last serve.
“[Je suis fier] for keeping you fighting me I said to myself, no matter how well he plays, I’ll give my all with every ball,” Rublev said.
“As the game progressed I got better and in the end I turned the script in my favor. I’m happy.”