Tsitsipas stays perfect on clay, reaches Barcelona final

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Stefanos Tsitsipas extended his winning streak to 10 matches at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Saturday when he earned a comeback 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory against Dusan Lajovic to reach the final at the ATP 500.

The Greek, who saved two match points in his quarter-final win against Facundo Diaz Acosta, started slowly against Lajovic. After dropping the first set, Tsitsipas grew into the match though, increasing his intensity and weight of shot in the second and third sets to turn the tide.

He demonstrated great footwork to dictate on his forehand and won 100 per cent (12/12) of his first-serve points in the decider to advance after two hours and 10 minutes.

“I would say the first game of the second set showed a direction where it felt if I keep up returns and applying constant pressure from the first shot I get to dictate, it might turn around,” Tsitsipas said. “It was a close game and I lost it but deep in my mind it was ingrained that if I continue on the same path, something good is waiting. It turned out I was right. I continued to play that kind of tennis.”

Tsitsipas lifted his third ATP Masters 1000 crown in Monte-Carlo last week and is unbeaten during this year’s European clay swing. The 25-year-old, who is a four-time finalist in Barcelona, holds a 29-2 record against players ranked outside the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings on clay since the start of 2022.

The World No. 7 will compete for his 12th tour-level title and first at ATP 500 level when he meets Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final. Tsitsipas, who has won five of his 11 ATP Tour trophies on clay, defeated the Norwegian in the title match in Monte-Carlo last week. The pair is locked at 2-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I am sure having played someone a few days apart, they will come up with some new plans,” Tsitsipas said ahead of his rematch with Ruud. “These kinds of matches are tricky, playing back to back. I am going to try and work and start that by having a good recovery and work tomorrow towards the final.”

Lajovic was chasing his second tour-level trophy this week. The 33-year-old Serbian, who won the title in Banja Luka last year, beat Diego Schwartzman, Ugo Humbert, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Arthur Fils in Barcelona.