By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday March 12, 2021
Two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas feel in three sets to Pierre-Hugues Herbert, while Daniil Medvedev zoomed past Jannik Sinner.
Daniil Medvedev swept past Italy’s Jannik Sinner in straight sets on Friday at Marseille, 6-2, 6-4.
The Russian needed just 75 minutes to get past the 19-year-old, as he broke serve three times and defeated Sinner for the second time in as many years at Marseille.
“I was, I think, on top of my game,” Medvedev said. “I served really well, returned a lot of balls in the court, I had a lot of power in my shots and had easy opportunities to make some winners. I felt like I had control of the points and of the match.”
Medvedev won 80 percent of his first serve points and 60 percent of his second-serve points, and he saved the only break point he faced against the 34th-ranked Italian.
Sinner, who has come a long way over the last two seasons, was philosophical about the loss.
"Compared to last year I have improved enormously, but there's so much to do," he said.
The victory sets up a semifinal clash with Matthew Ebden, who produced a surprise victory over Russia’s Karen Khachanov. The Aussie qualifier upset 2018 champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to become the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in tournament history. Ebden is currently No. 287 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.
Tsitsipas Stung by Herbert
The run of domination of two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas came to an end on Friday as he was toppled in three sets by France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-2.
Herbert recorded his fist Top 5 victory, thanks to 79 percent first-serve points won and five of eight break points converted.
The Frenchman improves to 2-0 lifetime against Tsitsipas.
“I didn’t deserve to win today,” said Tsitsipas. “He showed a great quality out on the court to persevere and win that match. [His victory was] very well earned. Too bad for me.”
Tsitsipas had won his last 19 sets at Marseille after taking the opening-set tiebreaker, but Herbert turned the tides, breaking at 4-4 in the second set and holding to force a decider.
There was an early trade of breaks in the final set, but Herbert kept pushing. He broke two more times to lock up one of his biggest career victories.
He will face Arthur Rinderknech or Ugo Humbert in the semis.