ATP Finals 2020: Rafael Nadal after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals
Rafael Nadal is in the semifinals of the ATP Finals 2020. The Spaniard defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6: 4, 4: 6 and 6: 2 on Thursday evening.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Nov 19, 2020, 11:48 pm
A small final should represent the last group game in the group "London 2020" for both players. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal, who were both inferior to Dominic Thiem, made up their minds on who will face the Russian Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the Nitto ATP finals - and who will have to say goodbye early on towards the end of the season .
Despite the importance of the match, both players got off to a great start in the game, convincing with a powerful attack game. There were hardly any unforced errors to be seen in the initial phase, instead winners hit both sides incessantly. After both Nadal and Tsitsipas were able to play their first service games easily, Nadal knocked for the first time when the Greek served at 3: 3. But this was able to defuse two breakballs.
Nadal with break at the right time
But he didn't succeed a little later, Nadal also increased the pressure in the next service game of the previous year's winner and secured the first break of the game to 5: 4 after a double fault by Tsitsipas. The Spaniard, who, like against Thiem and Rublev, presented himself impressively sovereign on his own serve, should not let that go. After almost exactly 40 minutes, the Mallorcans secured passage one with an ace 6: 4.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion also prolonged his dominant performance in the second set and hit a breakball in the first game of the set. Tsitsipas was able to fend off this with a remarkable backhand cross winner. Nevertheless, another break by the Spaniard only worked after a matter of time, 17 winners with just four unforced errors were at the beginning of the second set with Nadal.
Tsitsipas breaks out of nowhere
But the Greek got stronger and stronger, at least with his own serve, and got his chance. In the tenth game of the set, when the Iberian had to serve against the loss of the set, Tsitsipas had his first two break chances. Nadal was able to fend off the first, but the Mallorcan made a double mistake in the second. A third round had to bring the decision.
The world number sixth couldn't really make a profit from it. The Greek put in a sloppy game in the first game of the decisive set and was immediately punished by Nadal, the Spaniard made the early break. However, this should by no means represent a preliminary decision. In the next game it was Tsitsipas, who increased the number of strokes and managed the rebound. In the next game there was the next break, this time Nadal grabbed his opponent's serve to zero.
Nadal now against Medvedev
That should have been it - at least for a short time - with the breaks. Nadal and Tsitsipas then played their next service games, but when the score was 4: 2, the Greek stumbled again with his own service, finally moved a forehand by a few meters on breakball and thus made the decision. In just under two hours, the Spaniard was able to serve the match a little later.
Rafael Nadal finished second in the "London 2020" preliminary group. This means that the Spaniard will face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals on Saturday, who won the group "Tokyo 1970" after his success over Novak Djokovic. For the Spaniard, the O2 Arena in London is about his first triumph in the season finale for the eight best players. One of the very few big titles that the world number two is still missing.
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