2024 Monte Carlo semi-final: [12] Stefanos Tsitsipas v [2] Jannik Sinner

[helterskelter]

Sissy back on form on clay but now plays the dominant player of the year. With Sinner's improved serving, this is a stern test of Sissy's return, even on clay.

Sidenote hypothetical: Tsitsipas v Sinner if both had to serve underarm?

 

[albertobra]

Jannik to send the philosopher back to the Badosa nest, to entertain the tennis world with his insta account.
Sinner in 2.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

Sidenote hypothetical: Tsitsipas v Sinner if both had to serve underarm?

If you know an underarm serve is coming you'd be next to the service line every game and murder every return. The result would be a tiebreak lottery.

I think your hypothetical only works if we pretend that on every point the players don't know an underarm serve is coming. In that case I give the edge to Tsitsipas since he has the better net game.

 

[DSH]

What is the h2h between both on clay?

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

What is the h2h between both on clay?

The last time they played on clay was 2022, Sinner is a completely different player now so I don't think it's very meaningful.

 

[helterskelter]

If you know an underarm serve is coming you'd be next to the service line every game and murder every return. The result would be a tiebreak lottery.

I think your hypothetical only works if we pretend that on every point the players don't know an underarm serve is coming. In that case I give the edge to Tsitsipas since he has the better net game.

Or if we set a rule that the receiver of the underarm serve has to stand behind the baseline until after the ball is hit. It might also be possible in a world of underarm serving for players to develop slightly better underarm serves than is typical, but I'm doubtful about that.

 

[Pheasant]

Sinner in straights. He will break down Tsitispas' backhand. I'll go 7-5, 6-4 Sinner.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

What is the h2h between both on clay?

1 win each at Rome 2020 & 2022.

 

[InsideOut900]

Well this is about as good as it can get for Tsitsi in terms of playing conditions and still I don't expect him to do much.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

1 win each at Rome 2020 & 2022.

They actually played THREE times in Rome, and once more in Barcelona. Tsits leads 3-1 on the surface, but I don't find that stat to be particularly relevant at this point. Only concern is possible fatigue for Sinner, and the fact that he doesn't really care about this event.

 

[sortof]

Sinner is the clear favorite - but he hard to work hard to overcome the brat and I think Tsits has a chance to take it in 3.

He will break down Tsitispas' backhand.

That´s what I expected the Zedrot would do, but he didn´t.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Sinner is the clear favorite - but he hard to work hard to overcome the brat and I think Tsits has a chance to take it in 3.

Brat is the far better clay player than Tsitsipas. Brat beat Tsitsipas at RG when he was only 18 and is 3-0 against him on clay, HC and indoor hard. I don't think Tsitsipas has any conceivable chance to mow over Sinner and will lose in straights. Looking forward to the Djokovic-Sinner final on Sunday, I think Novak is really, really interested in avenging the AO beatdown. Whether he can do that will make the presumptive final a great one to watch.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[nolefam_2024]

Sinner is the clear favorite - but he hard to work hard to overcome the brat and I think Tsits has a chance to take it in 3.

That´s what I expected the Zedrot would do, but he didn´t.

The pushbot must have forgotten he isn't playing Nadal. He can't play his freaking passive 10 feet behind baseline game all the time.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

I really expect Sinner to win, and I’d be happy with that as I’m becoming a fan, but I also truly would love to see Tsitsipas excel in this tournament and win it, especially if he could beat Djokovic in the final to do it. If he could jump over that mental hurdle, after all the beatdowns Djokovic has inflicted upon him, it would be something alright, something amazing for him.

 

[GloW]

stupid chokerev
gives sinner another easy ms1000 final into his pocket

 

[NeutralFan]

stupid chokerev
gives sinner another easy ms1000 final into his pocket

His draw is way tougher than Djokovic's draw.

 

[DIMI_D]

Going back retrospectively (if it was last yr on clay) this would have been an interesting match as tsitsi came off a tough 5 set win in AO but sinner was in the ascendancy with Tsitsi starting his decent with hardly any top 10 wins and massive loss of confidence and regression that’s continued into this year then Sinner easily came out on top in Rotterdam Indoor hard and in Turin. As many pointed out and obviously sinner on Hard will be far to strong anywhere for tsitsi now he is just on a completely different level now. But going back to my point Clay is the last place tsitsi can challenge a lot of guys as he has more time to conceal his weaknesses and does love this particular venue and usually could overpower sinner in this match up. I feel tsitsi can push sinner and at least get a set but sinner looks like he is just way more compete a player now. Head says sinner in 3 but Steph does have a lot of chances to even win here it’s his best chance to beat sinner for a variety of factors

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Sinner was only good enough to beat the struggling Rune 64 67 63, so even though Sinner is ranked #2, he's a weak #2 and can lose to anyone...

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Sinner in 2!

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I really expect Sinner to win, and I’d be happy with that as I’m becoming a fan, but I also truly would love to see Tsitsipas excel in this tournament and win it, especially if he could beat Djokovic in the final to do it. If he could jump over that mental hurdle, after all the beatdowns Djokovic has inflicted upon him, it would be something alright, something amazing for him.

Beating Djokovic at this Monte Carlo isn’t much of an achievement. Djokovic isn’t playing that well and he was an error machine last match and physically struggling.

 

[NaDjoFed]

Looking forward to this match. 2 hours to go

 

[Sakura]

Sinner was only good enough to beat the struggling Rune 64 67 63, so even though Sinner is ranked #2, he's a weak #2 and can lose to anyone...

What absolute nonsense.

 

[Lingua Franca]

Or if we set a rule that the receiver of the underarm serve has to stand behind the baseline until after the ball is hit. It might also be possible in a world of underarm serving for players to develop slightly better underarm serves than is typical, but I'm doubtful about that.

It is a bit of a pickle(ball)!

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Looking forward to this one!

 

[GAS]

OP doesn't understand how time zones work, closes poll too early. If you don't know how to do it, let others start match threads instead.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Tsitsipas is a dangerous player on clay though. For a few years he was a solid 3rd best player on surface behind just djokodal.

 

[RS]

Tsitsipas is a dangerous player on clay though. For a few years he was a solid 3rd best player on surface behind just djokodal.

Won 2 MC titles B2B.

 

[GAS]

Topspin to the backhand, no?

 

[guga_fan]

Tsitsi’s backhand already failing him.

I swear that even with a cheap slice he would be a monster with that forehand of his…

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Great hold from sinner there!

 

[guga_fan]

And to think Tsitsi actually has a win against Nadal on clay as early as 2019. His backhand has degraded immensely…

 

[InsideOut900]

Lol, 30-0 and BP leads and he shanks BH returns with no failure. A greek tragedy at it's finest

 

[GAS]

Tsitsi’s backhand already failing him.

I swear that even with a cheap slice he would be a monster with that forehand of his…

Yep. This guy with a serviceable slice BH would be dominating on clay.

 

[Pmasterfunk]

Tsitsipas’ forehand is working quite well early on, and running around his bh effectively. Sinner not super sharp yet, if he can’t find a way to attack the backhand he’s gonna have a hard time.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Tsitsipas FH is godly on clay!

 

[guga_fan]

Yep. This guy with a serviceable slice BH would be dominating on clay.

He would be a force even on hard. He is incredibly good at getting to hit forehands after his serve. Probably the best serve + 1 in the tour since Raonic is always injured.

And his game really shines on clay, look how even Sinner os dominated by his FH…

 

[GAS]

Sinner false dawn exposed!

 

[NaDjoFed]

Break Tsitsi

 

[FernandoBiH]

Tsitsi can win tomorrow his 3rd title here! He is soooo goood.

 

[guga_fan]

Sinner has started poorly on serve though? Is he feeling it from yesterday’s match?

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

DF from Sinner. Early break for the Greek which is deserved. Sinner needs to keep the ball away from Tsitsipas FH more. Not easy though.

 

[FernandoBiH]

Sinner has huge advantage with kick serve when Stefanos rerutns with backhand.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I should watch

 

[GAS]

Zendaya in the house! And what's his name the bf.

 

[guga_fan]

Tsitsi playing well so far. But I just cant watch him without being sad that his potential is being wasted and he is not doing anything to change that…

 

[NaDjoFed]

Sinner’s FH not working well for now

 

[dking68]

DF from Sinner. Early break for the Greek which is deserved. Sinner needs to keep the ball away from Tsitsipas FH more. Not easy though.

Sinner will soon come into his own and dominate him. At this stage of his career, he shouldn’t be losing to the failed 90s gen

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Tsitsipas playing really well. Sinner isn’t playing bad here.

 

[GAS]

Sinner doesn't look good in this changeover.