Montecarlo ATP dal vivo: Ruud conquista il primo set 6-4 contro Djokovic

18:07 – Djokovic confirms the break of 4-1 advantage*

17:51 – Djokovic is now getting into the game, breaks at the start of the second set: 2-0

17:35 – SET RUUD – The Norwegian wins the first set of his career against Djokovic: 6-4 in 50 minutes

17:21 – Djokovic immediately recovers one of the two breaks: 4-2

17:16 – Double break for Ruud! Djokovic’s start is really slow, certainly not at his best. Casper takes advantage and goes up on a heavy 4-1 lead

17:05 – Complicated game, but Ruud fights back from 0-30, holds at advantage, and stays ahead: 3-1 for the aggressive Norwegian, often looking for the net

16:55 – What a start by Casper! Great start by Ruud, who immediately breaks Djokovic’s serve at the first chance and goes up 2-0

16:30 – Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud will soon take the court for the second semifinal of the day

16:26 – Stefanos Tsitsipas’s post-match words after his victory over Jannik Sinner:

“We played a very high-level tennis match. Jannik is a very tough opponent and has always been very consistent, as we saw today. He is one of the toughest opponents I have faced. Being able to find a way to overcome all the challenges he presented makes me very proud. I have been looking for such an important victory for a long time, and being able to show such a high level of tennis means a lot to me. I hope to recover well for the final.”

16:23 – GAME, SET AND MATCH TSITSIPAS – Stefanos Tsitsipas returns to the final in Monte Carlo, his third in the Principality. Jannik Sinner tries everything but surrenders after 2 hours and 40 minutes also due to some physical discomfort. A well-deserved final for the Greek, who prevails 6-4 3-6 6-4 and now awaits Djokovic or Ruud in the final

16:16 – Tsitsipas takes the lead, 5-4. The match could have been over by now, but between the phantom double fault and Jannik’s physical problems, everything has reopened. At the changeover, Sinner serves to stay in the tournament

16:12 – Tsitsipas breaks back – A very similar service game to the end of the second set, but this time it’s a break for the Greek. On the fifth break point, Stef levels at 4-4

16:00 – 4-3 Sinner, who needs a medical timeout for a discomfort in his right leg

15:56 – Sinner leads 40-0 again, loses the first points of the set on serve but stays ahead. 4-2 Jannik, who seems to be struggling with some physical issues

15:50 – Very dubious incident, but Tsitsipas shortens it to 2-3. The Greek saves two break points, but it seemed like he had committed a double fault on the second one. Sinner protests, but the point is played and in the end, Stef wins the game. The match is still wide open

15:42 – Sinner hasn’t lost a point on his serve so far in the deciding set and leads 3-1

15:39 – Tsitsipas stays close: it’s Sinner’s turn to serve. 2-1 Jannik

15:34 – And confirmed break! Sinner holds his serve to love and goes up 2-0

15:31 – Immediate break for Sinner! – Two errors from Tsitsipas at 30-30 give Jannik an early break. 1-0 and serve

15:22 – SECOND SET SINNER – Jannik saves five dangerous break points (two in a row), winning a game that lasted over twelve minutes and leveling the score. It’s not Sinner’s best performance, but the way he faced the break points is that of a true champion. Almost an hour for the final 6-3, we go to the third set!

15:08 – Tsitsipas does his part, now it’s up to Sinner to close out. 5-3 and service for Jannik

15:04 – 5-2 Sinner. He complicates things for himself by not closing out a comfortable backhand down the line, but with calm and composure, he saves the first break point of the set, finishing with a thunderous forehand winner. Tsitsipas remains at a distance

14:57 – Tsitsipas stays alive in the second set. The Greek saves a double break point, is pushed to deuce for the first time in the match in a service game, but manages to hold. 4-2 Jannik

14:48 – 4-1 Sinner. Jannik fights back from 15-30, finding a valuable drop shot, followed by a winning serve and a strong forehand. Tsitsipas is trailing

14:38 – Break confirmed. Jannik gets help from his first serve, with a couple of crucial winners. Excellent start, 3-0 Sinner. A 12-3 run in points for the South Tyrolean in the second set

14:35 – Sinner breaks – Tsitsipas stumbles at the start, unsure with his forehand and not supported by his first serve. Jannik offers two more break points, saves the first but double faults on the second. 2-0 and service for the world No. 2

14:32 – 1-0 Sinner, who occasionally touches his right side but closes with his first ace of the match. Crucial to start strong at the beginning of the second set

14:26 – FIRST SET TSITSIPAS – Great first set by Stefanos Tsitsipas, who excels in the baseline rallies and, despite an inconsistent first serve, only drops six points in five service games. 6-4 in three quarters of an hour for the Greek. Sinner has improved in the last few minutes but pays for the early break he suffered

14:20 – 5-4 and Tsitsipas serves. Jannik has stepped up with his forehand in the last few minutes, but now he needs to raise his level on the return. Stef serves for the set at the changeover

14:16 – Four service games for the world No. 12, four held to 15. 5-3 Tsitsipas (below 50% first serves in play), Sinner serves to stay in the set

14:11 – Sinner stays close, but he hasn’t been able to be threatening on the return so far. Jannik has never won more than one point in a return game. 4-3 and service for Tsitsipas

14:04 – Finally a good service game for Sinner, holding to love and trying to get back into the match. The Italian trails, 3-2 and it’s Tsitsipas’ turn to serve

14:00 – 3-1 Tsitsipas. The Greek confirms the break, losing only two points in his first two service games despite a 30% first serve percentage

13:55 – Tsitsipas breaks – Slow start for Sinner, unsure with his forehand and not getting much support from his serve. Jannik offers two more break points, saves the first but double faults on the second. 2-1 and service for the Greek

13:47 – And we’re off! Tsitsipas wins the toss and chooses to receive, earns the first break point of the match but Sinner hits three consecutive winners from his backhand side. 1-0 Jannik

13:30 – Sinner and Tsitsipas are on the court for the first match

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