Tennis: Tsitsipas ends Medvedev run in French Open to book last four spot

Tsitsipas celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

PARIS (REUTERS) - Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat world number two Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on Tuesday (June 8) to advance to the French Open semi-finals for the second straight year and end the Russian's surprise run on the Parisian clay.

The Greek got revenge for this year's Australian Open semi-final loss to the Russian, improving his Grand Slam quarter-final record to 4-0 with a 6-3 7-6(3) 7-5 win that teed up a last-four clash against Germany's Alexander Zverev.

Medvedev, who squandered two set points in the second set, had not won a single match at the French Open prior to his run to the last eight this year.

Yet having finally found his feet on the red dirt, he had few chances against the 22-year-old Tsitsipas, who has had a superb clay season so far.

Tsitsipas, a winner in Lyon and Monte Carlo on clay this year, wrongfooted the Russian to convert his first break point for 3-1 lead as he comfortably held serve in the first set.

Medvedev saved a Tsitsipas set point at 5-2 but the Greek wrapped it up a game later with a volley.

Tsitsipas then won 11 straight points to break the Russian again early in the second set and cruise to a 3-1 lead.

Yet his opponent launched a comeback, bagging his own first break en route to a three-game run.

Medvedev improved his first-serve percentage and even carved out two set points but his opponent saved them to hold and force a tiebreak.

Tsitsipas survived his second set wobble to clinch it with a volley on his first set point.

The pair traded breaks in the third before Tsitsipas broke again, winning on his first match point following an underarm serve from Medvedev.

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