Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his winning streak by surviving two match points in a dramatic quarter-final match against Facundo Diaz Acosta at the Barcelona Open. After his recent Monte Carlo Masters triumph, Tsitsipas had to dig deep in a contest that lasted over two-and-a-half hours to win 4-6 6-3 7-6(8). Tsitsipas credited his mental toughness and the reminder of a mountain on his headband for keeping him going throughout the match. Despite not dropping a set in the tournament before the quarters, Tsitsipas fell behind early to Diaz Acosta, who posed a constant threat and broke Tsitsipas in the third game. The Greek player managed to fight back and eventually win in a thrilling tie-break.
The second set saw Tsitsipas break early to take a 4-2 lead, which proved to be decisive as he served out to level the match. The third set was a back-and-forth battle, with Tsitsipas opening up a lead but Diaz Acosta fighting back to force a tie-break. With Diaz Acosta leading the tie-break 5-2 and having match points, Tsitsipas managed to come back and win at the third time of asking. The win was a testament to Tsitsipas’ mental strength and ability to push himself to uncomfortable places mentally during the match. The Greek player collapsed to the ground in relief and exhaustion at the end of the grueling encounter.
At the Bavarian International in Munich, Holger Rune reached the semi-finals by dispatching Marc-Andrea Huesler in straight sets. Rune showed flashes of his best tennis in both attack and defense to win 6-4 7-6(3) and set up a semi-final clash with either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Jan-Lennard Struff. The Dane broke in the opening game of the match and displayed his battling qualities throughout, saving break points and closing out the first set with a clinical smash. The second set went to a tie-break, which Rune won convincingly to secure victory.
Overall, Tsitsipas’ win at the Barcelona Open and Rune’s performance at the Bavarian International showcased their resilience and mental toughness on the court. Both players faced tough opponents and challenging situations but managed to come out on top through sheer determination and skill. Tsitsipas’ ability to push himself to uncomfortable mental places and fight back from the brink of defeat was commendable, while Rune’s impressive display of attacking and defensive skills earned him a spot in the semi-finals. Fans can watch more top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+.
