Zverev and Tsitsipas set up showdown at third consecutive Masters event

While the two have split their last six meetings, Tsitsipas holds a 7-4 lifetime edge over Zverev

Germany's Alexander Zverev and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas before their semi final match at the Monte Carlo Masters

AI / Reuters / Panoramic

May 13, 2022

ATP Rome 1000 | Draws | Schedule

For the third consecutive ATP Masters 1000 series event, Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitipas will clash in the semi-finals. After Madrid and Rome, the two will now meet in the semis of the Internazionli BNL d’Italia in Rome on Saturday in the next chapter of their growing rivalry.

Zverev, still searching for his first title of the season, was the first of the two to advance, defeating Chilean Cristian Garin 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 51 minutes in Friday’s quarter-final action.

First in the last four ⚡️

2017 Rome champion @AlexZverev sees off Garin 7-5 6-2 to return to the semi-finals at #IBI22 pic.twitter.com/ZA4TjYgK0a
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 13, 2022

Tsitsipas followed soon, with a 7-6(7-5), 6-2 victory over Italian Jannik Sinner in two hours and 24 minutes. The win was the Greek’s 30th of the season – the most by any player on the ATP Tour in 2022.

Into the last 4 at every clay Masters in 2022!@steftsitsipas gets past home hope Sinner 7-6(5) 6-2 to set up a third consecutive Masters 1000 semi-final clash with Zverev 🤝#IBI22 pic.twitter.com/SfGJ9R3ofN
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 13, 2022

Zverev is a player that challenges me when I’m out on the court: Tsitsipas

Ranked No 5 in the world, Tsitsipas had defeated Zverev in straight sets en route to winning the Monte-Carlo Masters title while the German took his revenge in Madrid last week with a three-set semi-final victory.

While the pair have split their last six career meetings, the Greek holds an overall 7-4 lifetime edge over the current world No 3.

“Zverev is a player that challenges me when I’m out on the court,” Tsitsipas said. “He is difficult to beat. He has a lot of experience on the tour, much earlier than when I started playing here. For me, I have respect for him. I don’t know if I’ve shown it or not, but I do have respect for what he has achieved in the sport so far. Every time I go out there to play him, I really want to bring out the best out of my game and really show what I’m capable of in terms of my tennis, handling the difficult situations because he can really, if he’s on a good day, not give you a lot of errors.”