Montecarlo 2022 SF: (3) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs (2) Alexander Zverev

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Mugestic play from Zverev yet again. The chance to become the world #1 fell into his lap and this is his response.

I wasn’t expecting this from Sascha and I’m pretty baffled.

 

[Fedeonic]

Wow, Tsitsipas really became the heir of clay since the death of the last prince.

1-1 on clay, both matches in 2018.

 

[junior74]

This match is a user's manual: "How to beat Zverev"

 

[BeatlesFan]

Thank you, Mr. Greece, for taking out the trash today!

 

[Kralingen]

Could only end with a mugged Zverev volley into the net from 2 feet away lol.

 

[NatF]

Tsits looking reinvigorated now he's on the clay. Good to see.

 

[Krish0608]

Impressed with Stef's mentality today. Managed it very well. Nothing too flashy. But did what was necessary.

 

[JaxTeller]

This level from Tsitsipas today coudlve challenged 2012 Red Clay Nadal

 

[Hamnavoe]

Finished fittingly on a Zverev volley special.

Nice match from Tsitsipas, I hope he can defend his title tomorrow.

 

[Enceladus]

Zod closed the match in style with a mistake on the net.

 

[Fedeonic]

Stef asserting his clay dominance over Zebrev. Nothing new under the sun.

 

[dapchai]

@I Am Finnish

2022: A Great Year For ABZ

Ah the 4th Annual ABZ thread. It's a family. It's a community. It's like coming home for the holidays. This thread was first inspired when Ferrer in 2019 took out the trash in Miami. Even in his old age Ferrer was still a great custodian, the greatest most hard working gatekeeper separating the...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[BeatlesFan]

This must be the worst M1000 since Sock won Paris.

What about Fritz winning IW?

 

[James P]

If Stefanos defends his title, that will be something else. Not sure anyone not the Big 4 have defended a big title yet.

 

[tennis_pro]

Tsitsipas starting to dominate the h2h

 

[Rattie]

Happy Days!!! Got the semi final results I wanted today.

 

[marc45]

surprisingly lackluster effort from Zverev...a little choppy from Stef early but picked things up, and executed a good game plan

 

[MeatTornado]

I know most of us aren't Sissy pants fans around here, but it's definitely good for the game for him to finally be bouncing back. Med & Zed may have had a much better past 12 months, but it's good to see Citybus re-establish himself as the man to beat on clay among them.

 

[romeo8880]

What does green parachute mean?

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

The second set performance by Stefanos was convincing - he will likely win tomorrow. I will be rooting for ADF though.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

He'll be the best clay court player of his generation, I've been saying this for a while.
He's like a stronger Kuerten.

"Stronger"??? You're off your rocker, man.

 

[darthrafa]

Could only end with a mugged Zverev volley into the net from 2 feet away lol.

some how i find why crybabies regard djoker as goat after watching the rubbish overhead before that volley

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

What about Fritz winning IW?

Fritz lucked out: an injured Rafa and he didn't have to play Carlos. A lucky winner for certain.

 

[catskillthunder]

Asterisk tournament

 

[tennisjedi]

It's never too late to join team abz.

 

[Deleted member 629564]

What does green parachute mean?

It's one of those philosophical tsitsipisms.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Honestly good job from Tsits today. Would be nice for him to defend the title.

 

[Krish0608]

This is also the first match in a long time I actually saw Stefanos use his BH slice as a weapon and a tactic. Good stuff. Smart tennis.

 

[Nadal_King]

Really nice from Tsitsipas, could be first non big 3 player to defend a masters after ages.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Maybe Zverev is feeling the pressure of being close to #1.

Thank God that pressure has been alleviated for awhile. Hopefully forever.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Egg is doing nothing but the propagandas (first Medvedev and now Z) continue to fail to take over the #1 position, if they keep failing and Egg is losing early in every matches he plays he will not lose the #1 position till he retires

 

[BeatlesFan]

This level from Tsitsipas today coudlve challenged 2012 Red Clay Nadal

His level wouldn't even have challenged this 14 year old Rafa.

 

[BeatlesFan]

It's weird, it's more like a high-pitched "ack!" these days, and he does it before contact. I guess I prefer that over players who start a loooong grunt after contact, but it's still an odd sound.

Watch a few points of this, Zedrot is indeed now screeching "ACK!" before he even hits the ball. Sickeningly annoying.

 

[Arak]

I wasn’t expecting this from Sascha and I’m pretty baffled.

He seemed to be half tanking. I doubt this was his best effort.

 

[The Fedfather]

An unfortunate coincidence that the 3 top from last season fell off like that practically simultaneously. It makes the competition for the #1 ranking ridiculous.

 

[TopspintheTerrible]

 

[stringertom]

Not bad for a guy with “no ROS and backhand.”

Second consecutive Tsitsipas M-C final; no small accomplishment despite the * tournament shade thrown here. M-C often sets the tone for the entire two months of Euroclay; going nearly all the way back to the first years of the Open Era. A M-C title has been followed by at least an RG final, if not the slam title, 30 times. Nastase started the trend and RG champions Borg, Wilander, Lendl, Bruguera, Muster, Moya, JCF, and of course Nadal have first triumphed on M-C final Sunday.

 

[Red Rick]

Tsitsipas starting to dominate the h2h

You love to see it.

 

[Third Serve]

not the biggest fan of the Philosopher but Anyone But Zverev means anyone but Zverev. Great performance today and I heartily bestow my thanks unto him for taking out the trash.

 

[RF-18]

This is also the first match in a long time I actually saw Stefanos use his BH slice as a weapon and a tactic. Good stuff. Smart tennis.

He is starting to find the form again. I said some week ago people need to have patience

 

[Mark-Touch]

It's never too late to join team abz.

Right!
The best time to join/buy, is when the price is down.
How does that saying go, "Buy low..." ?

 

[tennis_pro]

You love to see it.

I wont say no

 

[Winners or Errors]

I know most of us aren't Sissy pants fans around here, but it's definitely good for the game for him to finally be bouncing back. Med & Zed may have had a much better past 12 months, but it's good to see Citybus re-establish himself as the man to beat on clay among them.

I wholly agree. We need every solid player we can get. Maybe this tournament is a sign that he's finally getting comfortable after the injury.

 

[stringertom]

He is starting to find the form again. I said some week ago people need to have patience

Enqvist is a solid addition to the process.

 

[zvelf]

I doubt the first few games will tell us much. Not so crucial.

This will go the distance and there will be turnarounds.

You weren't kidding when you said you are bad at predicting matches.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

You weren't kidding when you said you are bad at predicting matches.

I am the best.

Of the best.

Tough to predict these new kids, too moody, too schizo.

 

[TheNachoMan]

"Stronger"??? You're off your rocker, man.

Let’s just say he’s better than Nadal while we’re at it. More handsome too.

Spoiler

the latter is true though

 

[Snafu23]

Fun fact I just learned.

Everyone has been saying Stefanos is half-Greek, half-Russian, but that is in fact incorrect. He is 5/8 Greek, 3/8 Russian. His Russian grandfather, his mother's father, was half-Greek, half-Russian himself. Stefanos' mother was therefore 3/4 Russian, 1/4 Greek.

I've heard that Greek granddad is 1/8th Italian though and my fraction game isn't that tight

 

[Snafu23]

Ah, that partly explains his vocal and explicit allegiance to his Greek roots?

We all feel robbed of having no tennis success despite Sampras, Phillippousis and Kyrgios so he's overcompensating!

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

His level wouldn't even have challenged this 14 year old Rafa.

The most incredible thing of this vid is the interview at the end. He didn't give a fk. For most kids, winning Les Petits would be a huge deal. Nadal was already focused on far bigger things and, as usual, he just wanted to keep training.