Semi final day in Dubai:
Dubai:
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 25 February - 2 March 2019
Defending champion:
Roberto Bautista Agut (3) who defeated Lucas Pouille (2) 6-3 6-4
ATP Semi finals
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) v Gaël Monfils
Tsitsipas served first and a double fault began the match. Still, a comfortable hold. Two Monfils shots which found the net had him down two break points, but solid serving helped him momentarily escape the trouble. A Tsitsipas forehand volley handed him another break point and Monfils saved that one. A double fault produced a fourth break point and Tsitsipas converted with an overhead. 2-0.
Quickly it was 3-0, a love game from Greece, an ace and a winning overhead impressive. Monfils was finally on the board, volleying and serving well.
Three thumping return winners from the Frenchman gave him two break back points, and Tsitsipas was broken on the second - he remained ahead 3-2, but it was now on serve.
At 3-3, Tsitsipas hit a forehand long and then saw a Monfils forehand whip past him. Two break points after another Greek error. Broken and Monfils had won four straight games to lead 4-3.
Tsitsipas needed to hold at 3-5 to stay in the set, but was down 0-30. He attacked and ultimately held, leaving Monfils the task of serving it out. He did the job and led 6-4
The first two games of set two were worrying for the servers - Tsitsipas saved two break points before holding, then Monfils, after leading 40-15, had to stave off a break point to level at 1-1.
Tsitsipas was in further difficulty in his next service game, down 15-40 following a Monfils backhand winner.
The two break points there were saved, and another one after that, but the fourth could not be avoided and Monfils led by a set and 2-1.
A love game to consolidate and Tsitsipas looked gone for all money.
However, a change came over the match - a strong service hold by the fifth seed was matched by a break back of the Monfils serve, the Tsitsipas forehand producing three winners.
Tsitsipas had set point when Monfils was serving at 4-5 and 30-40. It was saved with a French forehand cross court winner, and a tie break ultimately arrived.
Tsitsipas won the tie break after leading 5-4 and having a forehand called in for 6-4. This gave him two set points. In fact the shot was well wide, and Monfils should have challenged. If he had, the tie break would have been 5-5. As is turned out Tsitsipas squared the match at 4-6 7-6(4).
In the decider, both players faced a number of break points, Monfils one in the opening game, and two more in the fifth. Tsitsipas batted off all four of his when serving at 3-4.
A tie break resolved the match, and Tsitsipas was the steadier, taking the set and the match 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(4).
- Roger Federer (2) defeated Borna Coric (6) 6-2 6-2, in a match that offered plenty but was a total disappointment, lasting just over an hour.
The final will be a replay of the Australian Open fourth round thriller
Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) v Roger Federer (2)
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