In a grueling match that lasted over two hours, Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas managed to claim victory against Russian player Karen Khachanov in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. This win marks Tsitsipas’ fourth quarter-final entry in the ATP 500 event and his 350th ATP career victory, a significant milestone for the young player.
In a battle of wills that swayed back and forth, Tsitsipas emerged victorious with a score of 7-6, 2-6, 6-4. The match was a testament to both players’ resilience and skill, with Tsitsipas managing to secure a late break in the decider, thereby tipping the scales in his favor. This victory also saw Tsitsipas continue his winning streak against Khachanov, having now defeated the Russian player nine times in their ten encounters.
The match was anything but straightforward. Despite losing the match, Khachanov put up a commendable fight, especially considering the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is among his favored tournaments. While he managed to claim one point more than Tsitsipas in the second set, a heated decider saw him break at 4-5, leading to a moment of frustration where he smashed his racquet.
Both players were neck and neck throughout the match, facing nine break points each. Tsitsipas was broken thrice and managed to provide two return games, with the decisive one being the final game of the duel. His 36 winners and 38 unforced errors were balanced against Khachanov’s 24-36 ratio. However, Tsitsipas managed to maintain dominance from the baseline and at the net, eventually emerging as the deserved winner.
Despite being on the backfoot initially, Tsitsipas managed to gain an upper hand as the match progressed. The first game saw Khachanov save a break point with a forehand winner, but the tide started to turn in Tsitsipas’ favor with the Russian leading only 4-3 in the next six games. A crucial moment came in the eighth game when Khachanov secured a break after Tsitsipas’ double fault. However, Khachanov was unable to capitalize on this advantage, giving up his serve in the next game due to a forehand error.
As the match headed into a tie-break, mini-breaks were traded in the fifth and sixth points. A netted forehand by Khachanov in the eighth point saw Tsitsipas taking the lead. A service winner by Tsitsipas followed by a forced error sealed the first set in favor of the Greek at 7-6.
The second set saw a renewed vigor from Khachanov, earning six break points in the first game. He converted the last after a wild backhand from Tsitsipas, setting the stage for a riveting decider. However, the defining moments came in the final games, where Tsitsipas managed to turn the tables with a forced error and a sharp return, eventually clinching the match point after Khachanov’s volley error.
This intense match underlined the determination and skill of both players, but it was Tsitsipas who eventually emerged victorious, marking his 350th ATP win and propelling him into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.