USA Today via Reuters
Mar 29, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece hits a forehand against Kei Nishikori of Japan (not pictured) against in the fourth round in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 29, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece hits a forehand against Kei Nishikori of Japan (not pictured) against in the fourth round in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Rising Polish star Hubert Hurkacz upset World Number 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas to storm into the Miami Open semifinals on Friday.
The Greek, who went into the clash on the back of a straight-set sweep of Italian Lorenzo Sonego, hit the ground running and bossed the opening exchanges to take an early hold of the contest.
Stefanos Tsitsipas brought early pressure to bear on Hurkacz to win the opening set
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Dishing out a high-press, high-intensity game, Tsitsipas brought early pressure to bear on the Pole’s serve as he went up a break and consolidated it to open up a comfortable lead.
Hubi or Herbie? 🚗
How about the wheels on @HubertHurkacz 💨 pic.twitter.com/YfPKpbdNWO
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 1, 2021
Careful of not taking his foot off the gas, the Greek barreled on and took the opening set at a canter.
The Greek seemed to be in a hurry to the close the contest as he raced to a 2-0 lead in the second set and was 40-0 up on serve in the 3rd game before the tables turned, quite literally.
Stefanos Tsitsipas lost the plot thereafter
Finding a sudden spring in his step and bringing a renewed zeal and a sense of purpose to the fore, the Pole won 8 of the next 10 points to fashion an incredible turnaround.
After losing 2nd set, Tsitsipas spends time to change shirt, wrist-band, head-band. "If you give me a time violation I want the supervisor on court." (go gain another time)
Umpire gave the 2nd time violation, starting with 2nd serve.
Another Tsitsipas gate.😩 pic.twitter.com/yYdFjzB5VJ
— 禮 (@Vestige_du_jour) April 1, 2021
And as has happened ever so often with Tsitsipas of late, his game wilted and fell away in the face of pressure and it wasn’t long before he conceded the second set to the lanky Pole.
The World Number 5 took time to change his shirt, wrist band, and head band during the switchover, earning himself a second time violation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With the momentum firmly with him, Hurkacz stepped up a gear in the deciding set in pursuit of an early break and it wasn’t long before he struck gold.
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 1, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Hubert Hurkacz of Poland celebrates after match point against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece (not pictured) in a men’s singles quarterfinal in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The fight seemed to have gone out of Tsitsipas’s game as he barely held his serve before the Pole at 5-4, played flawlessly to seal his passage to the Final 4.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Greek will have come away with a lot to ponder as it was the 4th time since 2018 that he lost a Masters 1000 clash from a set-up.
READ MORE- Stefanos Tsitsipas Opens Up on Being an Idol for Greek Kids After Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
