Improving Tsitsipas eases into semi-finals in Monte-Carlo

Stefanos Tsitsipas continues to grow in confidence on his return to clay courts, the No 12 seed beating Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 15 seed, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals at the Monte-Carlo Country Club on Friday.

Tsitsipas, ranked No 12, will play the winner of the match between Dane Holger Rune, the No 7 seed, and Italian Jannik Sinner, the second seed, next.

The Greek, the winner in Monte-Carlo in 2021 and 2022, had reached just one semi-final on Tour this year before this week but he looked strong again on Friday. Khachanov had treatment for what seemed to be a groin injury late in the first set and Tsitstipas pulled away in the second for victory on one hour, 21 minutes.

“My returns for sure were effective,” Tsitsipas said. “He seemed well composed in his tennis, he wasn’t giving away too many unforced errors. I tried to press as much as I could and not rush. I took my time once again. Today I was very persistent in my efforts of working away with something good.”

Good memories spurring him on

Having struggled early on this year, a return to a place he knows well and has performed superbly in the past has clearly done the trick.

“I would lie if I said it doesn’t bring good memories stepping out on the court,” he said. “I come back here and I sort of relive those memories of the past, it gives good feelings to me.”

Ahead of his victory, the Greek won against Serb Laslo Djere (6-3, 3-2 ret.), Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (6-1, 6-0) and German Alexander Zverev, the No 5 seed (7-5, 7-6 (3)).

Khachanov, ranked No 17, won against Cameron Norrie (7-5, 7-6 (3)), Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) and No 4 seed Daniil Medvedev (6-3, 7-5) in the previous rounds of the Monte-Carlo tournament.

Monte-Carlo Masters 1000, other last eight results (Monte-Carlo Country Club, clay, EUR 5.950.575, most recent results first):

• Ugo Humbert vs. Casper Ruud
• Novak Djokovic vs. Alex De Minaur
• Holger Rune vs. Jannik Sinner