Norwegian Casper Ruud and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas won their respective matches to reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Tennis Open on Friday and could face each other in a second final in a row.
Ruud (sixth) defeated the Italian Matteo Arnaldi (40e) 6-4 and 6-3 to sign a 27e victory on the ATP Tour so far this season, more than any other player. He has two more than the Italian Jannik Sinner.
Tsitsipas (seventh) saved two match points before overcoming Argentinian Facundo Diaz Acosta (53e) 4-6, 6-3 and 7-6 (8).
Tsitsipas struggled with his serve and committed seven double faults. One of them earned him a break while he was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set. He then withstood two match points, each time with balls in hand.
“I feel like having so many matches under my belt and having faced situations like this before helps me, for sure,” Tsitsipas said. I knew anything was possible at any time. »
Tsitsipas easily defeated Ruud in the final in Monte Carlo last week to win his third title.
Ruud will try to get his ticket for a fourth final this year after those lost in Los Cabos, Acapulco and Monte-Carlo.
To achieve this, he will have to win against the Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (30e), who defeated the Briton Cameron Norrie (31e) 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (1).
Ruud got the better of Martin Etcheverry in their only other duel so far, which took place last year in Beijing. “It will be another tough match,” Ruud said.
Serbian Dusan Lajovic (59e) has a meeting with the Frenchman Arthur Fils (36e). The winner will face Tsitsipas.
Carlos Alcaraz, world number one, withdrew before the start of the competition and Andrey Rublev (second) lost in the second round.