PARIS: Stefanos Tsitsipas sealed his 300th career-win in style on Friday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he eased past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.
The seventh seed converted all three break points he earned to reach his third consecutive ATP Tour semi-final and match his 2022 run at the indoor Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy. The Greek is yet to drop a set this week as he chases his second tour-level title of the season.
Tsitsipas’ next opponent will be Grigor Dimitrov, who earlier downed Hubert Hurkacz 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Tsitsipas holds a 6-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead against the Bulgarian, with their most recent meeting a three-set win for the Greek at this year’s United Cup.
With his 94-minute triumph, Dimitrov reached 40 tour-level wins in a season for the first time since 2017, which is also the year he last lifted an ATP Tour crown at the Nitto ATP Finals.
World number one Novak Djokovic fought back to beat Tallon Griekspoor 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 on Thursday night and reach the quarterfinals.
The Serb, unlike in his slick second-round win, looked rusty in only his second singles match since playing in the Davis Cup six weeks ago, losing a 4-1 lead in the first set and squandering three break opportunities early in the second.
The 24-times Grand Slam winner mounted a comeback, however, as he convincingly won the tiebreak and took the decider to continue his quest for a record-extending seventh title in Paris.
Moreover defending champion and sixth seed Holger Rune claimed a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over Daniel Altmaier to reach last 8 stage. Agencies
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