Stefanos Tsitsipas battles past Filip Krajinovic to set-up Roger Federer semi-final clash in Basel

ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas will get the opportunity to end Roger Federer’s incredible Basel winning streak after earning a semi-final shot at the Swiss legend. 

Federer has been utterly dominant for years in his home tournament, and will head into the last four feeling fresh after receiving a quarter-final walkover courtesy of an injury to Stan Wawrinka.

Tsitsipas’ progress came in stark contrast to Federer as he was forced to battle for just under two hours in order to see off the Serbian 3-6 6-4 6-4.

Building on his run to the final at the Stockholm Open last week, Krajinovic broke Tsitsipas twice in the opening set to claim the advantage.

Tsitsipas grabbed the crucial break in the third game of the second set to haul back to level terms, and the pair swapped service breaks early in the decider before Tsitsipas broke again in the seventh game to squeeze out victory.

Roberto Bautista Agut’s hopes of reaching the ATP finals suffered a blow as he was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by American Reilly Opelka in their quarter-final clash.

Opelka hit 31 aces and saved three of five break points he faced to sink Bautista Agut, who is currently the ninth-ranked player in the ATP’s Race to London.

Opelka will next face Australian Alex De Minaur who beat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 7-6 (4).

Bautista Agut’s hopes of making the season-ending finale were not helped by quarter-final wins for both Matteo Berrettini and Gael Monfils at the Vienna Open.

RELATED: Rafael Nadal fights with the spectre of Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record ‘every day’

Berrettini, currently sitting in eighth place in the final qualification slot, extended his points lead by beating Andrey Rublev 7-5 7-6 (4) to reach the last four.

And French veteran Monfils moved into 10th place in the rankings, overtaking Fabio Fognini and David Goffin, after he saw off Aljaz Bedene 7-5 6-1.

Berrettini will next face top seed Dominic Thiem, who eased into the last four after opponent Pablo Carreno Busta retired hurt when trailing 5-0 in the first set of their semi-final.

Monfils will face Diego Schwartzman, who upset Russian second seed Karen Khachanov 7-6 (6) 6-2.

Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.

Roger Federer Stefanos Tsitsipas

Latest