Wily strategist Tsitsipas mows down de Minaur

Stefanos Tsitaipas spent an hour in matching Alex de Minaur move for move to deliver a crushing 6-1, 6-2 thrashing for a place in the Rome Masters on Tuesday.

The sixth seed who reached the final against Novak Djokovic in 2022,  said he relied on a strategic approach, likening the fourth-round battle to a chess game.

“I was trying to take my time, play patiently and wait for the opportunities to present themselves,” the Greek said.

“It’s a tactical game, a game of chess. I need to try and come up with my best moves in the most important moments.”

The brief contest ended on the first match point as Aussie de Minaur drove a return long over the baseline.

Tsitsipas was leading a set and 4-1 when he lost serve, the first of three consecutive breaks in a late-match wobble.

The victory ended with 14 winners and four unforced errors for Tsitsipas, who next faces Nicolas Jarry.

“I was trying to bring out the best quality of stroke and I delivered,” the winner said.

“I was consistent with my serve and constructed the points patiently.

“My opponent felt the weight of my ball, that gave me courage and a belief in myself to keep pushing.

“Something good was working for me today.”

Tsitsipas increased his margin in his series with de Minaur to 11-1and earned revenge for a loss to the de Minaur last spring in Acapulco.

The Greek winner has moved into his fourth consecutive Rome quarter-final.