Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic within the Barcelona Open on Saturday and can face Norwegian third seed Casper Ruud in one other last.
Fifth seed Tsitsipas is chasing his second title of the season after he dismantled Ruud 6-1, 6-4 to win the Monte Carlo Masters final week for the third time in 4 years.
The 2 will meet once more within the showpiece match on Sunday after Ruud beat Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry 7-6(6), 6-4 within the different semifinal earlier on Saturday.
Lajovic broke to take the opening set towards the Greek after neither participant dropped serve within the first 11 video games.
Tsitsipas dedicated 22 unforced errors in that set however his efficiency improved and he broke Lajovic’s serve within the second to take a 4-3 lead and finally degree the match.
One other two breaks within the decider put Tsitsipas 4-1 in entrance and he marched on to ebook his spot in a fourth Barcelona last.
World quantity six Ruud has not dropped a set as far as he cruised previous Etcheverry to succeed in his fourth last this 12 months though he’s nonetheless looking for his first tour-level title since lifting the trophy in Estoril final April.
The pair had been evenly matched within the first set till Ruud took his first likelihood to interrupt for a 4-2 lead earlier than Etcheverry, seeded thirteenth, broke again within the following sport.
The Argentine saved two set factors to pressure a tiebreak, solely to see Ruud clinch it having saved a set level himself after a 76-minute battle.
It was simply as shut within the second however Ruud proved too robust for Etcheverry, taking part in in his first ATP 500 semi-final.
“These three finals losses this 12 months have been making me hungrier,” Ruud stated. “I’m going to dream about (clinching the title) tonight.
“Final week I put a bit an excessive amount of stress on myself. I play my finest once I’m cool and don’t suppose an excessive amount of about it on the market. That’s what I did at the moment.”
Earlier than his defeat by Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo final week, Ruud misplaced finals in Los Cabos and Acapulco this 12 months.