By Richard Pagliaro
Stefanos Tsitsipas passed along a present sending Dominic Thiem into the ATP Finals semifinals.
Defending-champion Tsitsipas offered a gift-giving message to Thiem: Send some schnitzel.
Rublev: Blown Match Point Great Lesson
Andrey Rublev double faulted on match point and 6-5 in the tiebreaker and Tsitsipas pounced pulling off a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(6) victory over Rublev.
The comeback win followed Thiem's pulsating 7-6(7), 7-6(4) win over Rafael Nadal and it secured the US Open champion's second straight trip to the semifinals.
Thiem, who topped Tsitsipas in Sunday's opener, leads Group London with a 2-0 record in round-robin play.
Tsitsipas was hungry for compensation after punching Thiem's ticket to the final four.
"Domi should send me something else...Perhaps a platter of some Vienna schnitzel," Tsitsipas joked afterward.
A year ago, Tsitsipas edged Thiem 6-7(7), 6-2, 7-6(4) to win the ATP Finals title in his tournament debut.
Staring down match point against Rublev today, Tsitsipas said his sole focus was eyes on the prize.
"I didn't really think much about it at that given moment," Tsitsipas said. "I just kept my focus because I knew I had to win the next point in order to make a difference.
"I was eyes on the prize. That's how I would say it. I was just focusing on the now and on the present moment that was given to me. At 6-All I went for it. I had a very good return, deep return that allowed me to turn around and hit a successful forehand that played a lot of pressure.
"I think, yeah, the psychology changed after that."
The sixth-ranked Greek will face another physical and psychological test when he takes on Nadal on Thursday with the winner advancing to Saturday's semifinals.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe