Tsitsipas sets up Barca reprise of Monte Carlo final

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud will re-play last weekend’s Monte Carlo final in Barcelona after both moved through to the Spanish title match on Saturday.

Ruud, runner-up to the Greek six days ago in the principality, did his part with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 defeat of Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Tsitsipas came from a set down for a second straight match, overcoming Dusan Lajovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.  

Tsitsipas has won his last 10 games and will be competing in his fourth final at the Real Club de Tenis in hopes of securing his first trophy here.

The seventh-ranked Greek needed just over two hours to secure victory against a tiring Serb opponent.

Tsitsipas overcame 43 unforced errors and polished his form in the final set as he lost just one point on serve.

Ruud and Tsitsipas stand level at two wins apiece in their series.

“Playing the same match just a few days apart can be tricky,” he said. “I’m sure his team will come up with new pans, new adjustments,

“I want to show a better version of how I played in Monte Carlo, it should be a good match.”

He will be playing his 29th final at the Tour level and is now the third player this season to have won at least 10 matches on the trot (after Jannik Sinner on 16 and Sebastian Baez)