By Chris Oddo | Wednesday October 17, 2018
Stefanos Tsitsipas battled into the Intru Stockholm Open quarterfinals with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Australia’s John Millman. The Greek is in the midst of an amazing season that has now seen him reach nine ATP quarterfinals and rack up 36 wins on tour.
Earlier this season Tstitsipas became the first Greek male to reach an ATP final since 1973 at Barcelona, and later in the summer he became the first Greek male to ever reach the round of 16 at a major when he did so at Wimbledon.
The milestones keep coming for Tsitsipas, now 20.
The No.3 seed saved five of seven break points to edge Millman in a tough tussle that stretched to two hours and two minutes. He broke critically in the eighth game of the third set and served out the match at love to improve to 36-25 on the season.
Speaking of milestones, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov booked his spot in the NextGen ATP Finals at Milan for the second straight year with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over compatriot Peter Polansky.
The 19-year-old saved seven of nine break points to win a tense two hour and 33 minute affair. He improves to 35-25 on the season with the win.
Shapovalov will face Ernests Gulbis in second-round action in Stockholm.
Shapovalov joined Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe in qualifying for Milan on Wednesday. There are still three spots left to claim with American Taylor Fritz next in line.