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Anderson 🎥 Tsitsipas



Nadal 🎥 Khachanov SEMI-FINAL RESULTS 🎾 💥 = Beatdown

🤕 = Injury

‼️ = Upset



Featured matches:



Tsitsipas d Anderson 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(7)



A very entertaining and intensely even match. Both guys finished with positive winners to unforced errors ratios and only one break of serve occurred in the entire match (out of 7 total break points). A high quality contest which came down to the wire in a momentum-swinging, final set tiebreaker.



In the breaker Tsitsipas held 2 match points, one of which on his serve, but looked tight as he served a double fault. Anderson then held a match point of his own and was foiled by a gutsy backhand crosscourt winner from his young greek opponent. It was this winner that summed up Tsitsipas's week. Whenever he has faced pressure situations in this tournament he's found the answer in the form of bold, offensive ability. This is something all the best players do, playing the big points on their own terms rather than sitting back, waiting for the error. That winner set Tsitsipas up to create another match point of his own by converting his next two service points. Anderson went long with a backhand at 7*-8 and we had a new, first-time masters finalist. Another huge win for, soon to be 20 year old, Stefanos Tsitsipas. A final against the world No.1 is his reward.



Nadal d Khachanov 7-6(3), 6-4



A pretty routine win for Rafa, despite being pushed to a first set tiebreaker. Nadal created the vast majority of the chances in this match, making 7 break points (converting only 2) vs Khachanov's 1 (Karen converted it). Simply, Rafa's ceiling was too high for Khachanov to contend with when it mattered. Their levels took very different paths in the tiebreaker, with the Spaniard toking very solid, while Khachanov tightened up. The 2nd set saw Rafa improve his serve significantly, landing 69% 1st serves in and winning 83% of those points (as well as 63% of 2nd serve points). A great week for the young Russian, but he still has lots to improve on. Nadal exposed the trouble he has when trying to finish low, short balls, when in control of the point. Also, Khachanov's serve, for such a tall guy, could do with mixing in more variation and placement over power if he wants to really get the most out of his tall frame.

SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮 Incredible defence and strength from Anderson to get enough on the pass despite being wrong-footed.

(TennisTV) Great lob from Tsitsipas, especially considering how he managed to control it despite hitting in on the full run.

(TennisTV) Crazy defence from Nadal, and then the trademark pass.

(TennisTV) Rafa hitting banana passing shots. What year is it again?

(TennisTV) 🍌 INTERVIEW/PRESS BEST BITS 🎤 Tsitsipas post-win:



- “Four wins against Top 10 players. I would never imagine I would pull this out in a single tournament. The crowd pulled him through the tough moments, felt like a Davis Cup atmosphere.

Source



- “I am secure and aggressive at the same time. I feel like my forehand is on fire at this moment.”

Source



On running out of challenges and getting most of them wrong:



- "It's all my dad's fault. He told me to challenge on those two serves I hit. So I went for it and, unfortunately, both of them were out. So it's his fault, not my fault. I'm probably going to switch my coach next time, a coach with better eyes."

Source



On forgetting what the score was in the intense finals set tiebreaker:



"If I tell you something now, you won't believe it. But it was 6-4 when I double-faulted, right? In my head, it was 5-3."

Source

Rafa post-win:



- “I’m happy about everything. Of course, I can play a little bit better. I believe I can do it.”

Source



On Tsitsipas:



- “He’s a complete player. He has passion for the game. He’s not just one thing, he’s got everything.”

Source WHO'S PLAYING TOMORROW? ⏰ Toronto



Centre Court



Nadal vs Tsitsipas (H2H: 1-0)



Cincinnati



Full Order Of Play 4pm Start - Local Time (9pm UK)vs(H2H: 1-0) EXTRAS...🔍🎤📊 Tsitsipas is youngest player ever to beat four top 10 players in the same event.

Tsitsipas will also be at least top 20 in the world when the rankings are updated next week. He will be ranked 12th if he wins the final.

If you want an impression of how popular Tsitsipas already is, listen to the crowds reaction when he beat Anderson: Video.

Stefanos is also the 1st unseeded player to make a Rogers Cup final in 10 years.

Kokkinakis, currently the world No.268 is set to jump at least 35 places in the rankings after making it to the Aptos Challenger final. He plays Lloyd Harris (161) for the title.

Source Tsitsipas finishing his teens in style (turns 20 tomorrow).

Source Thiem dealing with a possible knee injury in Cincinnati.

Source Federer & Murray meeting on the practice courts in Cincy.

Source Sascha and Novak travelling to Cincinnati in style. Tsitsipas with a nice gesture thanking the crowd for their support and impact on the match.

"Me? No. YOU."

(TennisTV) Tsitsipas's message post-win.

"It never gets easier, you just get better"

(TennisTV) LOL 😂 'The Racquet' is concise ATP tennis news, stats and analysis, delivered weekly/daily to your inbox. Make sure you never miss an issue: Subscribe Tweet Forward GAME, SET & MATCH 👋 The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt. You can find me on twitter by tapping/clicking this. You early subscribers (Beta testers) get access to 'The Racquet' Discord. Tap/click the Discord button below to join (we even have Jerzy Janowicz emojis). If you know anyone who would like 'The Racquet' here is the link to send them so they can sign up: https://theracquet.co See you tomorrow for the Toronto Final and Day 1 of Cincinnati!