BARCELONA, April 27, 2018

Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrated his biggest win of his career to reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The #NextGenATP player knocked off the tournament’s No. 3 Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-3, 6-2 on Friday afternoon.

Tsitsipas won 72 per cent of his first service points and broke his opponent four times to seal victory in one hour and 20 minutes. The youngest player remaining in the tournament has not dropped a set to reach the stage of the final four at ATP World Tour-level for the second time after Antwerp last year.

A career best win for @StefTsitsipas as he takes out 2017 finalist Thiem 6-3 6-2.

Reaches second career ATP semi-final.#bcnopenbs pic.twitter.com/aP2KdElVRh

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 27. April 2018

“I was so concentrated that when the match finished, I looked at the scoreboard and I was surprised to see the score. I didn’t expect it,” Tsitsipas said after picking up his second win over a top 10-player. “It wasn’t easy at all but I was expecting a bigger fight and things turned out to be much better than I thought. It played a very good match. I was a bit more prepared than him today and that is why I deserve to win.

“I would say this is a good win and one of the most important in my career. Beating these kind of players will give you confidence on the court. You know how much better you are than last year. You know how much you have improved. So those kind of victories always help.”

Tsitsipas will next challenge Pablo Carreno Busta. The fifth seed from Spain edged out No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 7-6. Carreno Busta won 53 per cent of the total points played to prevail after one hour and 37 minutes.

In the top half of the draw, Rafael Nadal fought past Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan 6-0, 7-5. The World No. 1 broke his opponent’s serve five times to face No. 4 seed David Goffin in the semi-finals.