By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 3, 2018

 

Stefanos Tsitsipas swept third-seeded David Goffin, 6-3, 6-4, to roll into his fourth semifinal in Washington, DC.

Photo credit: @CitiOpen

Nine days shy of his 20th birthday, Stefanos Tsitispas continues confounding Top 20 opponents.

Commanding the center of the court, Tsitsipas erased all three break points he faced dismissing David Goffin, 6-3, 6-4, to power into his fourth semifinal in Washington, DC.

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It is Tsitsipas' sixth Top 20 win of the season, including victories over Diego Schwartzman, Dominic Thiem and Pablo Carreno Busta en route to his first ATP final in Barcelona in April.

Tsitsipas will play either defending champion Alexander Zverev or seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori for a spot in Sunday's final.

The third-seeded Goffin is a sniper on return, but could not crack the code of the lanky Greek's twisting serve.

Early breaks in both sets empowered the 10th-seeded Greek on serve.

Tsitsipas seared a mid-court forehand winner down the line to break for 3-1 in the opening set. He broke to start the second set and never looked back.

Asked if the 99-minute win was as smooth as it seemed, Tsitsipas refrained from spinning the subject connecting this hard-court charge in the nation's capital to his surge to the Barcelona final in the capital city of Catalonia.

"It was and I can say that my very good rhythm that I had in Barcelona helped me raise my confidence and believe in myself a little more and make me realize I belong in this level," Tsitsipas told Tennis Channel's Justin Gimelstob afterward. "I broke him early so I focused more on my serve.

"I knew I was serving very good today. I focused on my serve and trying to win as many points on my serve as I can."

The 6'4" Tsitsipas closed two of his first three service games slashing aces in building a 4-1 lead.

Facing break points in the seventh game, Tsitsipas answered with a daring forehand drop shot off the sidelined and a thumping serve, quieting the threat and holding for 5-2.

Typically a clean ball striker, Goffin struggled to find his timing today. He framed a few mis-hits, but hung tough holding for 3-5 before about a half-hour rain delay.

Despite the break, Tsitsipas served out the set calmly at 15.

Hammering heavier shot than the slender Belgian, Tsitsipas hit 24 winners against 20 errors, while Goffin delivered 16 winners against 21 unforced errors.

A sloppy start to the second set saw Goffin gift the break on a couple of netted errors.

Tsitispas survived a two double fault game holding for 5-3.

"I would say mainly patience [was key]," Tsitsipas said. "I remained patient. I didn't hurry. I took my time concentrated on the bounce before I toss the ball and tried getting the right toss on the serve and the serve just went in the right direction exactly where I wanted it to be."

Serving for the semifinals, he denied break point with a crackling serve, slashed an ace for match point and closed on a stray Goffin forehand.