By Tennis Now | Friday, October 21, 2022

 

Stefanos Tsitsipas denied 10 of 11 points fending off home hero Mikael Ymer 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the Stockholm Open semifinals.

Photo credit: ©Nicolas Gouhier/FFT/Rolex Paris Masters

Stefanos Tsitsipas grew up facing Mikael Ymer in the junior ranks.

When things got tight between the former rivals today, Tsitsipas calmly created separation.

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The top-seeded Tsitsipas denied 10 of 11 points fending off home hero Mikael Ymer 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the Stockholm Open semifinals.



The 2018 Stockholm champion improved to 6-0 at the tournament reaching his 10th semifinal of the season.

Overall, Tsitsipas is 55-19 on the season, including a 30-12 record on hard courts.

"It was not easy playing out here," Tsitsipas said of facing the Swedish fan favorite. "I really had to play good tennis, come up with some creative shots, and I'm very happy with the result.

"I had to really work hard for it. He came very close, getting kind of a small lead, but I stopped him. I was there, insisting, and persevered in the first set. It was such a crucial moment to go through, and I did that and the rest came."

The 24-year-old Greek will face Emil Ruusuvuori for a spot in Sunday's final.



The 52nd-ranked Fin dismissed third-seeded Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-2. Ruusuvuori won 26 of 27 first-serve points and did not face a break point in a 64-minute sweep.

The Fin is into his sixth career Tour-level semifinal.

Nineteen-year-old Dane Holger Rune rallied past second-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

The seventh-seeded Rune ripped 11 aces and faced just one break point in a two hour, six-minute victory.

Rune will play Alex de Minaur in the semifinals. De Minaur defeated fourth-seeded Denis Shapovalov 6-2. 7-6(4).

The fifth-seeded de Minaur meets Rune for the first time on Saturday.