Stefanos Tsitsipas avenges Madrid Open loss against Alexander Zverev to reach maiden Italian Open final in Rome

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final. Tsitsipas' 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday's final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

Ad/> Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court. ATP RomeDjokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev18 HOURS AGO The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev. The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide.

Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start. Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead. Swiatek now 26 unbeaten, sinks Andreescu to reach semi-finals Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point.

It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider. A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev's serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.