The Greek, 5th in the world, was impressive throughout the tournament, even in the quarter-finals where he drew on his physical and mental resources to dismiss Diego Schwartzman in 2:43 after being trailing 4-0 in the deciding set.

He had finished this hair-raising quarter at 11:00 p.m. Friday and was already back on the court a few hours later on Saturday to start his half shortly before 5:00 p.m.

"It was hard to resume after a difficult match. My body was not at 100%, but I am very happy with the tennis I produced", admitted Tsitsipas after having quietly beaten the German Alexander Zverev (3rd ) 6-4, 6-2 in just 1h15.

Against all expectations, the Greek wanted to impose a physical fight.

"I wanted to stay on the court as long as necessary and launch long exchanges to make the part physical. Obviously, it worked well", explained the player still in search of a first title this season.

The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, during his victory against the German Alexander Zverev, in the semi-final of the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo, April 16, 2022 Valery HACHE AFP

The Tokyo Olympic champion had also consented to a burst of energy in the quarters to beat Jannik Sinner in 3:07, and he indeed appeared on Saturday disillusioned and a little physically diminished.

"I was a little limited (physically) today. Yesterday's game was very demanding and my leg problem (he had a massage on his left thigh during his quarter) didn't help" , he said, acknowledging that "Stefanos had played ten times better" than him.

Advantages

The German resisted in the first set but not in the second where he gave up four games in a row from 2-2.

German Alexander Zverev, during the semi-final of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, April 16, 2022 Valery HACHE AFP

Last year, a few weeks after winning his first Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, the only one to date, Tsitsipas led two sets to zero against Novak Djokovic in the Roland-Garros final before losing.

So that Tsitsipas, exempted from the first round, will have the advantage of experience (this year he played the final in Rotterdam, the semi-finals at the Australian Open and Acapulco) but also freshness against his last opponent of the week.

Davidovich (46th but already guaranteed to climb to 27th rank on Monday - his best ranking - or even to enter the Top 20 in the event of a title) will indeed play at 22 the very first final of his career on the ATP circuit.

The joy of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, qualified for his 1st final in Masters 1000, after his victory against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, on April 16, 2022 in Monte-Carlo Valery HACH AFP

Three times, he had climbed into the semis (Estoril 2021 and 2019, Cologne 2020) but he had never passed the milestone until then.

This year, he arrived on Monaco clay with a record of nine defeats for four victories and had only managed to chain two victories at the ATP 250 in Doha in February.

Energy

But, after the regret of not having been able to defend his chances in the quarterfinals last year when he was forced to retire after his first set against Tsitsipas, he deployed this year a tremendous energy to pass the five rounds which took him to the final.

With the best victory of his career, obtained in the 2nd round against the world No.1 Novak Djokovic.

"From the start of the tournament, I was mentally ready to fight on every point," he insisted on Saturday after another grueling 2:44 fight to dismiss Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (29th) 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.

"It was a difficult match... I had my chances in the second set, but Grigor played well and I was tired. But I kept fighting, I wanted to see where my limits were" , he explained.

The Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, during his victory in the semi-final of the Masters 1000, against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, on April 16, 2022 in Monte-Carlo Valery Hache AFP

It will probably be necessary to flirt again with these limits, or even exceed them if he wants to defeat Tsitsipas.

To date, the Greek has won their first two duels (after abandonment last year in Monte-Carlo and after a close match in the first round in Rotterdam in February).

"With what happened this week, I'm really ready for this new clash, I'm going to enjoy every moment," promised Davidovich.

© 2022 AFP