Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Alexander Shevchenko, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the Swiss Open semi-finals.
The Greek star continued his march towards the title in Gstaad with an entertaining three-set win over the Kazakhstani number two.
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Tsitsipas was full of praise for his opponent after the match as he reached his first ATP final in 16 months.
Stefanos Tsitsipas congratulates Alexander Shevchenko after beating him to reach Swiss Open final
The former world number three said the following during his on-court interview.
“It was a great fight against Alexander [Shevchenko]. I think we played an incredible match from both sides. It’s unfortunate that there’s got to be a winner at the end, I think both of us deserved the victory playing incredible tennis, so I’d like to congratulate him on such an incredible effort today,” said Tsitsipas.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alexander Shevchenko – Match stats
| Stats | Stefanos Tsitsipas | Alexander Shevchenko |
| Aces | 4 | 4 |
| Double faults | 2 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 61% | 59% |
| Forehand winners | 20 | 8 |
| Backhand winners | 2 | 3 |
| Forehand unforced errors | 16 | 10 |
| Backhand unforced errors | 7 | 15 |
| Net points won | 10/13 | 9/12 |
| Baseline points won | 44 | 30 |
Tsitsipas then shared his thoughts on the altitude in Gstaad and how it affects his game.
“There is a lack of oxygen, [you’ve] got to pump your lungs with extra oxygen, it’s difficult out there,” he said.
“It’s not easy the first couple of days you arrive. I’m at sea level back home in Monte Carlo, and I’m up here in the mountains; it takes a little bit of time to adapt to the bounces.
“I think it amplified my game, the altitude tennis improves my best shots, and makes them pop a bit more.
“I think those who have big serves, big weapons, they get an extra kick when they come up here in the altitude.”
The altitude has certainly aided Tsitsipas so far in Switzerland, and he’ll be hoping that keeps up for the final.
Who will Stefanos Tsitsipas play in the Swiss Open final?
Tsitsipas will play Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in the Swiss Open final.
Like Tsitsipas, Collignon has won three three-setters en route to the Championship match in Gstaad.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ route to the Swiss Open final
- 1R [WIN] vs Ignacio Buse, 6-4, 6-4
- 2R [WIN] vs Jerome Kym, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6
- QF [WIN] vs Arthur Rinderknech, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
- SF [WIN] vs Alexander Shevchenko, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Raphael Collignon’s route to the Swiss Open final
- 1R [WIN] vs Timofey Skatov, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
- 2R [WIN] vs Lorenzo Sonego, 7-6, 7-6
- QF [WIN] vs Valentin Vacherot, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5
- SF [WIN] vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5
Tsitsipas is looking forward to the final and his first career meeting with Collignon.
“We both had long matches, so we both really want to [win],” he said.
“We’ve come to the end, the two of us. I feel like no one wants to go out there and not give it their all. I’m not expecting anything other than a big battle.
“I know I said it before, but whenever there is a final, you want to give it your all, one last breath, and I want to get out there and take the court by storm, that’s what I’m hoping for.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas can announce return to form with Swiss Open title
Tsitsipas has reached two Grand Slam finals in his career and won the ATP Finals, but those days are long gone.
Or at least, that’s what we thought.
The Greek began the week as the world number 85, having only won six Grand Slam matches across his last nine tournaments, and hadn’t reached a tour-level final in over a year.
But seemingly out of nowhere, Tsitsipas has found some form on the Swiss clay.
Seemingly playing with more freedom without his dad, Apostolos Tsitsipas, coaching him, Tsitsipas is back in a final and has jumped up to 64th in the ‘Live ATP Rankings’.
He would move up to 51st with a title, proving many of his doubters wrong.
The bad news for Tsitsipas is that the conditions in Gstaad, which are clearly working so well for him, are fairly unique.
When he plays his next tournament, on hard courts in Washington, he will need to adjust to a whole new set of conditions.
Whether he can maintain his current form when he heads over to the United States remains to be seen…
