‘I showed determination,’ says Stefanos Tsitsipas as he beats Andrey Rublev to set up Rafael Nadal decider

Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas will battle it out with Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals after saving a match point to beat Andrey Rublev.
Tsitsipas’ 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) win means Dominic Thiem qualifies for the last four after his brilliant victory against Nadal earlier, with the Greek and the Spaniard heading to a winner-takes-all clash on Thursday.
Tsitsipas was dejected after losing his opening match to Thiem but reacted in just the right manner here, wrapping up the first set after only 19 minutes.
✅ Match point saved!
An epic win for 🇬🇷 @StefTsitsipas to close out the night 👏#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/cn5ksXwRZo
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 17, 2020
However, Rublev, making his debut in the tournament, produced a spirited response and had a match point in the deciding tie-break only to double fault.
Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview: “It was an unbelievable match from both sides. We produced some incredible tennis. The relief at the very end of putting all that effort and all that fight on the court paid off.
“I’m very happy that I showed determination and a willingness to not give up when he had match point. I produced some really good tennis and that helped me take the win.”

Russian Rublev qualified for the tournament for the first time by virtue of winning more titles and matches than anyone else this season.
The 23-year-old settled into the match at the start of the second set but Tsitsipas appeared untroubled until he came to serve to stay in the set at 4-5 and was broken to love.
The Greek tried to wrestle back the ascendancy early in the decider but was unable to take any of five break points in the third game and Rublev grew in confidence as the contest headed to a deciding tie-break.
A thriller 👏
Defending champion @StefTsitsipas squeezes past Andrey Rublev in a rollercoaster of a match#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/iQcveAiucD
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) November 17, 2020
Tsitsipas looked in control at 5-2 but lost the next four points, with Rublev putting together a tremendous rally to force a match point.
He let Tsitsipas off the hook with just a second double fault of the match and his hopes of progressing are now over.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
News
Andy Murray set for Rotterdam second-round clash with world No 8 Andrey Rublev
Murray and Rublev’s only other meeting was in 2017.
-
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic unlikely to return to action before clay season as there ‘is no need to take any risks’
Novak Djokovic unlikely to feature at the Miami Open.
-
Tennis Top 10
Top 10 oldest No 1 ATP players: Novak Djokovic now the second oldest No 1, but will he catch Roger Federer?
Roger Federer currently holds the record.
-
Australian Open
Goran Ivanisevic slams media for ‘thrashing’ Novak Djokovic, rating 2021 Australian Open as his ‘sweetest’
Goran Ivanisevic takes aim at the media.
-
WTA Tour
Ashleigh Barty pulls out of Dubai tournament, but hopes to defend Miami Open title
Ashleigh Barty won’t be travelling to the Middle East.
-
ATP Tour
Roger Federer to skip Miami Open as he opts to ‘slowly work his way back’ following injury
Roger Federer won’t feature at the Miami Open.
-
ATP Tour
‘I’m playing for my career’ – Honest Andy Murray admits retirement question is lingering
Andy Murray fought back to beat Robin Haase in Rotterdam.
-
News
Andy Murray hits back to win first round match against Robin Haase in Rotterdam
The former world No 1 finished strongly.
-
ATP Tour
Battling Andy Murray shows his old fighting spirit to beat Robin Haase in Rotterdam
Andy Murray fought back from a set down.
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev closing in on career milestone as he returns to action this week
Daniil Medvedev hits the top two in ATP Rankings.