Taylor Fritz beats defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in shock win to reach semi-finals in Monte Carlo

Taylor Fritz knocked out defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-4 to seal his place in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time.

Tsitsipas was on a 12-match winning streak in Monte Carlo heading into the clash with the American, but Fritz was able to overcome the world No. 2 in straight sets in one hour and 12 minutes.

Fritz, who records his first career top-10 win on a clay court, will play No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev in the last four.

“I thought my level today was really high,” Fritz said in his on-court interview.

“Beating him here gives me a lot of confidence and reassurance I need to know I can play well on clay.

“I seemed to play well on the big points. I just took my chances. I knew if I played too safe then he was going to be able to dictate with the forehand.

“Even in the pressure moments I stuck to my strategy of pulling the trigger and trying not letting him get those forehands to dictate on.”

Fritz will play Rublev on clay for the first time since they played each other nine years ago on the juniors tour.

On facing the Russian next, Fritz said: “He’s tough. When we played that match in the juniors in Mexico it was more like sand we were playing on!

“He’s a great player and also a good friend. I’m excited for the match, he’s tough.”

The No. 8 seed got off to an excellent start against Tsitsipas with his backhand proving particularly effective.

Fritz sealed a quick double break on the Tsitsipas serve before winning the opening set 6-2 in 29 minutes, becoming just the second player in the last three years to win a set against the Greek in Monte Carlo.

Tsitsipas played with greater aggression at the start of the second set, but Fritz sealed the first break with a forehand winner to take a 4-3 lead.

The Greek broke back immediately with a forehand winner of his own. But a looping forehand into the tramlines in the next game from Tsitsipas restored Fritz’s break advantage to go 5-4 up.

Fritz held his nerve to serve out the match, sealing a love hold with an ace.

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