"I had to be Stefanos" - Tsitsipas after majestic comeback win over Schwartzman

On a day of thrillers at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the best was saved until last when Stefanos Tsitsipas edged Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 in an epic clash under the floodlights on Court Rainier III.

In a classic quarter-final match that swung one way and then another, Tsitsipas squandered a 5-2 lead in the second set, before rallying from 0-4 in the decider to triumph after two hours and 45 minutes on Friday. Tsitsipas said after:

“There was a moment in the match where I felt what I was doing wasn’t working. He had a massive lead and momentum in what he was trying to do. I just tried to stay in the match as much as I could and that worked out very well. I wasn’t expecting much at that point being a double break down, so I relaxed at that point.”

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After saving a break point in his final service game, Tsitsipas brought up the first of his two match points with a majestic diving drop volley that is a sure-fire shot-of-the-season contender. Three points later, he celebrated with a look of part exhaustion and part disbelief after Schwartzman found the net to end a lengthy rally.

He said:

“It was extremely close. I was really close in the second set. That was the moment I had a big chance to close it out but Diego is Diego and I had to be Stefanos in the third set.”