Serbian Filip Krajinovic defeated the top seed Greek player in three sets to reach the semifinals of the Hamburg European Open.
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Serbian tennis player Filip Krajinovic produced the tournament’s biggest upset, beating top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Hamburg European Open to reach the semifinals. The 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory means he claimed a third Top 10 win of his career. The sixth seed fought back after losing the first five games to enter the semifinals in two hours and one minute. He won 76 per cent (31/41) of his first-service points against the World No.4. Next up for Krajinovic is a clash against countryman Laslo Djere after the Serbian eased past third-seeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-2 in comfortable fashion.
“He started really well, really aggressively,” Krajinovic said. “I could not find my game, could not find my serve, he was overpowering me. But at the end of the first set, I started to feel better, I was going for my shots. It paid off in the end. I am happy to beat Tsitsipas, he is an amazing player. I always play well here, and I hope I keep playing well here. [Laslo] Djere is an amazing player, so it is going to be a tight match next. It is going to be an interesting [match] tomorrow.”
Earlier, Tsitsipas started brightly, winning the opening 11 points as he raced 3-0 ahead. He struck the ball with power and was at times unstoppable. The Serbian – to his credit – fought back well to lose the opening set in a respectable 6-3 manner. As a result, he gained momentum heading into the second set.
Krajinovic was a rejuvenated player in the second set after adding variety to his game, using the drop shot on his backhand with great success throughout. With Tsitsipas starting to make errors, the Serbian broke early to lead 3-1. There was no stopping him after that as he closed out the set without losing another game.
The World No. 44 continued to strike the ball well in the third set as Tsitsipas found it difficult to play against him as the Serbian bagged the set and the match in incredible style.
Meanwhile, second seed Pablo Carreno Busta also advanced through as he defeated Dusan Lajovic 7-6, 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes. The World No. 13 will compete in his fourth semifinal of the season after also enjoying runs to the last four at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and the Mallorca Championships this year. He will next take on Federico Delbonis after the World No. 48 saved four match points to defeat eighth seed Benoit Paire 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Argentine Federico Coria produced a major surprise at the Nordea Open after he defeated second seed Cristian Garin 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to reach his second tour-level semifinal of the season. Coria broke Garin six times and won 66 per cent (40/61) of his first-service points to advance in two hours and 33 minutes.
German player Yannick Hanfmann will face Coria next after the World No. 107 defeated qualifier Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-3 to reach his first semifinal of the season. Hanfmann had won 93 per cent (28/30) of his first-service points to advance in 86 minutes.
Meanwhile, top seed Casper Ruud also moved forward after he received a walkover against Henri Laaksonen. He will next play Roberto Carballes Baena after the Spaniard defeated Norbert Gombos 6-4, 6-2.
