The Greek has survived against a young rival who has shown all his tennis (4-6, 6-4, 6-2). Tsitsipas returns to an ATP final and will fight to expand his track record.
Stefanos Tsitsipas a priori had a simple duel in the semifinals of Rotterdam. The Greek had surpassed Davidovich, Ivashka and De Minaur to fight again for a new ATP title. In front was the revelation of the tournament, the young Czech Lehecka (No.137 singles) that since the previous phase had been planted in all the semifinals with great sensations and surpassing rivals that a priori were much superior.
Tsitsipas gets the comeback
The Greek began taking the initiative on the scoreboard. He won his first game in love, but since then the Czech youngster began to impose his pace from the back of the court. Tsitsipas was uncomfortable and Lehecka in the third game got a break that he confirmed with his service to go up to 3-1. Tsitsipas couldn’t find comfortable shots, nor could he dominate with his forehand, so he continued to struggle with his serve. The first set point for Lehecka came to return in the ninth game. Lehecka felt some pressure, but finally the second set point arrived and with his service he made it 6-4 to set off the alarms in the great favorite for the title.
Tsitsipas came out with a different intensity and from the beginning he tried to play from further inside the court. Lehecka continued to withstand the pull of the Greek and after 4-4 they reached the decisive games. The ninth game fell to Tsitsipas and now he remained to win the set. Very smart and experienced Stefanos reached the set point, and at first he closed the second quarter to take the duel to the final set.
Lehecka couldn’t take it anymore and from the start the game was uphill for him. Tsitsipas took the reins with the score 3-0 and since then there were no more alternatives to the rest, until reaching the ball of the match in the eighth game. Tsitsipas closed his fist and certified his pass to the final after a scare to which he was able to react to end up taking an important victory.
