By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 28, 2020
Stefanos Tsitsipas dismissed Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, scoring his eighth straight win to roll into his second straight final in Dubai.
Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Facebook
Adjusting to changing conditions is a weekly challenge on the ATP Tour.
An energized Stefanos Tsitsipas continues to confront each challenge with all the right answers.
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A streaking Tsitsipas dismissed Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, scoring his eighth straight win to soar into his second straight final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Five days after Tsitsipas swept Felix Auger-Aliassime to successfully defend his Marseille title indoors, he shredded the crafty Evans with a five-game surge storming into his second straight Dubai final.
Setting the tone early, Tsitsipas showed his all-court skills hitting nine more winners—21 to 12—and winning 10 of 15 trips to net in a sharp one hour, 21 minute victory.
“I just managed to stay solid throughout the whole match,” Tsitsipas said. “I didn’t have massive break downs and I just played a good quality of tennis, which I enjoyed. “I really didn’t feel much stress today out on the court. I haven’t played Dan before, but despite that I stayed quite calm. And I’m really impressed by the quality of my game today. I really hope to bring the same and possibly even better in the next round.”
A red-hot Tsitsipas has won 16 of the last 17 sets he's played.
Pursuing his sixth career title, the sixth-ranked Greek will face either world No. 1 Novak Djokovic or Gael Monfils in the final. Eight-time Australian Open champion Djokovic carries a 16-0 record into today's second semifinal, while a scorching Monfils is riding a 12-match winning streak.
Whipping his wide serve to set up menacing forehand strikes, Tsitsipas served 69 percent, won 26 of 29 first-serve points and did not face a break point in a powerfully efficient performance.
“I found momentum,” Tsitsipas said. “I’m actually executing really well with my forehand, which played an incredible role today in the match. I won most of my points from the forehand side, which is my biggest weapon and my serve helped a lot as well. I think my aggressive game out on the court, trying to take the ball, trying to attack and not being much on defense helps a lot by having the upper hand.”
Both men are shotmakers who play with one-handed backhands, but the 6’4” Tsitsipas is the stronger athlete and more explosive player. Evans stayed in step through four games, but Tsitsipas started measuring the Briton’s serve, striking with more depth and targeting his slice backhand to take total control.
Eighteen minutes into the match, Tsitsipas raked a backhand return crosscourt scoring the first break for 3-2.
Reading the wide serve, Tsitsipas flashed a forehand return pass punishing the Briton’s serve-and-volley attempt for another break point. Trying to take the initiative, Evans overplayed his forehand spraying the shot wide as Tsitsipas broke again for 5-2.
Throughout the set, Tsitsipas patiently probed the Evans’ one-handed backhand waiting for the right ball before pulling the trigger on his forehand.
Spinning a diagonal forehand winner, Tsitsipas smacked an ace off the sideline closing the 34-minute opener with stylish finality.
Evans could not find a solution for the assault on his one-hander. Still, he should tenacity to start the second set, serving-and-volleying to save a fourth break point. A scrappy Evans navigated a grueling 13-minute game snapping a five-game slide.
Focus was a Tsitsipas strength throughout the match. While Evans occasionally became distracted chirping at his box or chatting at himself, the Greek kept firing with depth and ambition.
The ATP Finals champion imposed his forehand drawing a forehand error to break for 2-1.
Dialed in on his forehand throughout the match, Tsitsipas slashed a clean crosscourt forehand for double match point.
Tsitsipas second straight final when Evans pushed a half volley wide. Next up for Tsitsipas is a massage and some rest while he takes a sneak peek at the Djokovic-Monfils match.
A year ago, Tsitsipas fell to Roger Federer in a historic Dubai final. Tomorrow, he's aiming to bring more aggression.
"Let them play for as long as they want," Tsitsipas said. "[I will] just try to relax before my match tomorrow. It's important for me to be well rested before that final. It will mean a lot for me the second time here in Dubai being in the finals it's really crucial for me to get something different going on this time.
"And I’m going to try to be the strongest I can tomorrow."