ATP Estoril: Stefanos Tsitsipas tops David Goffin to set Pablo Cuevas clash
Twelve months ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas was beaten in the semi-final in Estoril by Joao Sousa in the third set tie break, returning in 2019 with goals to go at least one step further. Stefanos has accomplished that on Saturday, defeating the 4th seed David Goffin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes for the place in the sixth ATP final and the third this season. This was the fourth triumph for the Greek over the Belgian in six encounters, coming from a set down and scoring breaks in the critical moments to secure the place in the title match.
Both players grabbed five breaks of serve from 25 chances overall and it was the struggling Belgian who made a better start, moving ahead with a return winner in game five and sealing the opener with another one in game nine for a 6-3. The second set offered a festival of breaks, with seven in the opening eight games, four for Stefanos who finally delivered a hold at 5-4 after saving two break points with service winners to clinch it and gain the momentum before the decider. Tsitsipas fended off three break points in the fourth game of the decider and moved 5-4 up when David sent a forehand long, cementing the 22nd win of the season with a hold in game ten.
A lucky loser Pablo Cuevas has used the second chance this week in Estoril with both hands, beating the young Spanish qualifier Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 53 minutes for the place in the tenth ATP final, the first since Sao Paulo 2017. Competing in only the second ATP tournament in a career, the youngster gave everything to continue where he left against Gael Monfils last night but had nothing in the tank after the opener, facing 15 break points and suffering seven breaks, six in sets he lost. Pablo got broken four times from as many chances he gave to Alejandro although that couldn't affect his progress, breaking a teenager six times in a row and overcoming an early deficit in the decider to find himself in the title match.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2WpMBmW
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