Tennis Sinner and Djokovic out in the Monte Carlo semi-finals
Jannik Sinner had to admit defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo. photo
© Daniel Cole/AP/dpa
The final of the ATP tournament in Monaco is not Jannik Sinner against Novak Djokovic. The two semi-final outsiders prevail – one of them’s prayers are answered in the end.
The tennis professionals Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud are surprisingly playing for victory at the Masters 1000 tournament in Monte-Carlo.
The Greek Tsitsipas, who knocked the German tennis star Alexander Zverev out of the competition in the round of 16, prevailed in his semi-final match against Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner from Italy 6:4, 3:6, 6:4. The Norwegian Ruud then defeated the 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner Novak Djokovic from Serbia 6:4, 1:6, 6:4.
“This was tennis at the highest level that I am capable of playing,” said Tsitsipas. Sinner suffered his first defeat after nine wins in a row, although he was able to thwart a total of twelve break chances against him. In the middle of the second set, the 22-year-old had to be treated medically; he was clearly suffering from cramps and thigh problems.
Djokovic ended the match against Ruud with a double fault – perhaps the Norwegian’s prayers helped. “I prayed and thought: Just once let it be a double mistake!” Ruud revealed afterwards: “Something or someone was listening up there.”
dpa
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