MONTE CARLO – Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas kept alive his hopes of a third Monte Carlo Masters title as he breezed into the semi-finals on April 12, after dismissing Russian Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-2.
Tsitsipas, winner in Monte Carlo in 2021 and 2022, needed just 83 minutes to record his eighth win in nine meetings with an out-of-sorts Khachanov.
The 25-year-old will next face Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, who overcame Dane Holger Rune 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.
“I was very effective from the start. I had a lot of pace and gained momentum,” said Tsitsipas.
“I tried to do my part and press and it worked out really well.”
Khachanov had cheekily said to the umpire before the match “Are you going to stay focused?” after a week of controversial line calls, to which the official replied: “Always, of course.”
It was the Russian who should have asked himself the question as he was way off the form he had shown in his win over compatriot Daniil Medvedev on April 11.
The opening exchanges were messy from both players with three successive breaks of serve – Tsitsipas breaking the run to open up a 3-1 lead.
Khachanov finally won a service game of his own – to make it 3-2 – displaying a fine mix of power hitting, delicate touch and agility.
However, he required medical attention at the changeover at 5-4 down, but returned to the fray only for Tsitsipas to serve out the set.
Khachanov, who seemed to be troubled by a pain in an upper quad, came under pressure on his serve at 1-1 in the second set – but he saved a break point and then held.
However, it was a very unhappy Khachanov who returned to his chair at the next changeover as a series of errors gave his Greek rival the break at 3-2. The 27-year-old Russian flung his racket angrily to the ground as he took his seat.
Tsitsipas did not ease up, winning 11 points in a row to surge to a 5-2 lead and served out for a place in the last four.
He admitted the tournament brought out the best in him though it is yet to lead to him winning the big one on clay – the French Open.
“I would lie if I said it did not bring out the best in me,” he said, grinning.
“There are many good memories and stepping out here and coming back here, it revives those good memories. It brings me alive.”
Tsitsipas’ next opponent, Sinner, lost to Rune in the 2023 semi-finals but this time the world No. 2 prevailed as he reached a fifth semi-final in as many events in 2024.
“I’m very happy I won today, but mostly about my physical level – I raised it today,” the Italian said.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat Australian Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-4 to book a semi-final against either France’s Ugo Humbert or Norwegian Casper Ruud. AFP
