De Minaur, Tsitsipas Survive Five-Set Battles To Reach Final

Stefanos Tsitsipas (photo: Next Gen ATP Finals)

MILAN, November 10, 2018

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur, the top two seeds of the Next Gen ATP Finals, will compete in Saturday’s championship match in Milan.

Tsitsipas fought past last year’s runner-up Andrey Rublev of Russia 4-3(3), 3-4(5), 4-0, 2-4, 4-3(2). The No. 1 seed from Greece sent down 10 aces, winning 78 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and eight minutes.

“You feel great after winning such matches, because there has been a lot of effort,” said Tsitsipas. “We [spent] hours on the court fighting, wanting that win. The one that gets it at the end, I think, is the most happy person on earth. I’m very satisfied.”

Earlier in the evening, de Minaur rallied past Spaniard Jaume Munar 3-4(5), 4-1, 4-1, 3-4(4), 4-2. The 19-year-old Australian saved all five break points he faced, converting four of his own to secure victory in exactly two hours of play.