Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals on Friday when his opponent, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, was forced to retire due to injury.
After the fourth seed clinched the first set 7-5 on Court Rainier III, Davidovich Fokina called time on the quarter-final clash. The Spaniard took a medical timeout at 3-3 to receive treatment to his left quadricep.
“I am happy to be at the place where I am right now… I am happy with my performance today. I think I fought really hard. Even in difficult moments, I was putting out my best tennis,” Tsitsipas said in his post-match interview.
“I saw he got injured in the middle of the first set and I took advantage of it [and] tried to make him play.
“It wasn’t easy, of course. There were certain moments which were a bit tricky and uncertain, but I stayed composed and imposed my game later in that match.”
Tsitsipas is through to his sixth Masters 1000 semi-final. The Greek has now advanced to the final four at all three clay-court Masters 1000 events. He will face Daniel Evans for a spot in the championship match.