Stefanos Tsitsipas sets up clash against ‘unpredictable’ Gael Monfils

ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas serving

Australian Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas saw off the challenge of Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the quarter-final of the Sofia Open.

Playing in his first match since losing to Rafael Nadal in the last four at Melbourne Park, Tsitsipas secured a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory in one hour and 29 minutes.

The Greek squandered a break point in the 12th game of the opening set, but eventually took the set in the tie-breaker before a single break in the second set earned him the win.

Next up is seventh seed Gael Monfils after the Frenchman beat Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5, 6-3.

“I will have to be careful,” Tsitsipas told ATWorldTour.com when asked about Monfils.

“My opponent does unpredictable things on the court. Sometimes you don’t expect things and he’d play, I’d say, with your mind.

“He has seen my game, I have seen his… I just need to be careful and be aware of what he’s doing.”

Third seed Daniil Medvedev also advanced as he came from a set down to beat Robin Haase 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. He will take on Martin Klizan for a place in the semi-final after the Slovakian beat Daniel Brands 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Marton Fucsovics, meanwhile, beat Yannick Maden 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-4 to secure a last-four encounter against Fernando Verdasco, who was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 winner over Marius Copil.

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