Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrei Rublev, both in contention for a place in the ATP Finals, are set to meet in the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoor, an ATP 500 level event, being held in Basel.
here were a lot of tense moments in my last two matches, so I am trying to build up on that confidence, getting to play those pressure points the best I can Stefanos Tsitsipas
Rublev, currently placed in 8th place in the qualifying race to Turin, now has a tough task to get past Ben Shelton while Tsitsipas, with an outside chance of qualifying for the 8-man field, lies 12th in that table trailing the Russian by 745 points, has an eually tough task when he takes on Arthur Fils next.
The sixth seeded Shelton brought Stan Wawrinka’s hopes to an end but had to contend with a strong challenge from the Swiss 39-year-old playing in front of his home crowd. He eventually brought him down 7-6(2) 7-5 to book his 13th appearance at a tour-level quarter final.
“I was happy with the way I defended my break points,” said Shelton, who saved five during the match. “Being clutch in the big moments is what won me the match today.
“We were joking in the locker room before the match that he [Wawrinka] has been on the Tour as long as I have lived. He has a lot of experience out here, he’s done a lot of incredible things for our sport, especially here in Switzerland.”
Shelton struck 20 forehand winners enroute to setting up a quarter-final clash with top seed Rublev, who had eased past Alejandro Tabilo 24-hours earlier.
Stefanos Tsitsipas fighting to qualify for Turin
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Meanwhile Tsitsipas also endured a strong challenge from his second-round opponent, Botic van de Zandschulp and had to dig deep to get past the Dutchman 7-6(3) 7-5.
“I had to stay calm in those tight moments, and it worked out pretty well,” said Tsitsipas on reaching his fourth quarter final of the season. “There were a lot of tense moments in my last two matches, so I am trying to build up on that confidence, getting to play those pressure points the best I can.
“It became critical in a lot of moments. Despite winning the first set, he wasn’t really backing down, he wasn’t giving me the space I was looking for. I would say the second set was even more challenging and tough to play than the first one. [It was] an incredible game by myself at 5-5 [in the second set], I managed those points with some great athleticism and defended well.”
Tsitsipas will face the French youngster Fils for a place in the last four after the 20-year-old muscled his way past Pedro Martinez 7-5 6-3.
Holger Rune produced some impressive form
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Holger Rune, the 2022 finalist, continued to impress as he eliminated Dominic Stricker 6-3 7-6(2) in 87-minutes.
“It was a good level from my side in the first set, but I lost a little bit of focus in the second when he broke me,” said Rune. “He was playing pretty fast, rushing me, so I had to up my footwork and be more active with my legs.
“I just had to stay in there and find a solution, and I did. I connected with some returns, managed to get the break back and everything was open.”
The 21-year-old will next face Lucky Loser David Goffin, who produced some remarkable tennis to stun fifth seed Ugo Humbert 3-6 6-1 7-6(7) who joined the defending champion Felix Auger Aliassime on the sidelines following the Canadians 6-1 7-6(6) defeat by the 6’8” Frenchman, Giovanni Mpteshi Perricard, 6-1 7-6(6).
The 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, will now meet another Canadian for a spot in the semi-finals after Denis Shapovalov produced some impressive tennis to down a revitalised Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 7-6(4) putting an end to the veteran Spaniard’s red-hot run of form that saw him clinch the title in Antwerp last week.
