Rublev and Tsitsipas in line for rematch in mouthwatering quarter-final clash
It will be a fascinating rematch at Roland-Garros as two of the tour’s most exciting young talents face off in the quarter-finals.
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – October 5, 2020 Russia’s Andrey Rublev reacts during his fourth round match
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Roland-Garros, fourth round
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RUBLEV d. FUCSOVICS, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(3)
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TSITSIPAS d. DIMITROV, 6-3, 7-6(9), 6-2
- Key info: The young guns both had to come through tie-break sets to progress.
- You will also learn: How close Martons Fucsovics came to an upset.
- Why you should read this: The pair have set up a rematch just over a week after their last meeting – in the Hamburg final.
Andrey Rublev came through a gruelling four-set encounter against Martons Fucsovics at Roland-Garros, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(3) – and set up a fascinating quarter-final clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The pair played each other just over a week ago – when they faced off in the final of the German Open in Hamburg.
The Russian came out on top in that encounter, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
And that successful campaign seems to have set him on a firm course in Paris – giving him the confidence and power to battle through, even against a tricky opponent like Fucsovics.
“I expected a match exactly like this,” said Rublev afterwards, acknowledging how hard he had been made to work.
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Fucsovics had a break advantage in the second and third sets – and even had three set points in the fourth.
But the 22-year-old Russian won 11 of the last 14 points on offer to secure his place in his second successive Grand Slam quarter-final.
‘Aggressive’
Tsitsipas, meanwhile, had another tough task, facing former Top 10 player Grigor Dimitrov, but he completed the job in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(9), 6-2 to become the first Greek man into the French Open quarter-finals.
But he was pushed hard in the second set, when his opponent took him all the way in a lengthy tie-break.
“I felt comfortable,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “You don’t really know what to expect. We have a similar style of play. I knew if I could be as aggressive as possible…to create opportunities, they were eventually going to come. It was high-quality tennis from both of us.”
The 22-year-old also took a medical time-out for a problem with his eye, which was visibly swollen when he did his on-court media duties after the match.
