MALLORCA/STARNBERG, June 24, 2022
Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to his first tour-level final on grass Friday when he defeated Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-4 at the Mallorca Championships. The No. 2 seed, who is making his debut at the ATP 250 tournament in Santa Ponsa, Calvia, saved all three break point he faced and converted two of his own five break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 33 minutes.
Four-some ✌️✌️
The moment @steftsitsipas reached his fourth final of 2022 with victory over Bonzi at @MallorcaChamps! pic.twitter.com/8WBJcKCcKj
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 24, 2022
“It was a good match. I am very happy today,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview. “I have played a final a week before a Grand Slam before. It was the year I made the final at Roland Garros, in Lyon. It worked out pretty well to have that final and consistency of matches. It is different this time. We are talking about a different surface, so we will see.”
Tsitsipas will take on Roberto Bautista Agut in Saturday’s championship match. The No. 5 seed from Spain ended the run of Swiss qualifier Antoine Bellier, winning 7-6(5), 6-2. Bautista Agut won 58 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 18 minutes.
Tsitsipas will appear in his fourth final of the season. The 23-year-old Greek retained his title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo in April and is seeking his second trophy of the year. Bautista Agut could clinch his second title on grass following his triumph in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2014.
This will be the third meeting between the two with Tsitsipas leading their hear-to-head series 2-0.
