Rafael Nadal was eliminated in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 Madrid by the young Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.9) in three sets 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 on Saturday, two weeks away from Roland Garros (26 May-9 June).
An alarming defeat and no title in 2019
After Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, this is the third time in as many clay-court tournaments this season that Nadal falls in the semifinals. This new defeat is alarming for the Spaniard, eleven times crowned at Roland Garros but still looking for a first title in 2019: he never triumphed in Paris without having won at least one of these three tournaments. In the final, Tsitsipas will face world No.1 Novak Djokovic, who beat Austria's Dominic Thiem (N.5) earlier in the day.
In the Madrid wind, the young Greek, inspired and offensive, efficient in the service and attracted to the net, at first gave Nadal, who has struggled to find his rhythm. But led a set to zero, the Mallorcan turned into a whirlwind and won four consecutive games to tie in a round everywhere. In the deciding set, it is still Nadal who got the first chances of break in the decisive set, to no avail.
Four match points and 2.5 hours of combat
This did not discourage Tsitsipas, who resumed his offensive until digging the gap 5 games to 2 in the third inning. Nadal then redone one of his two late breaks, but no more. And the Greek ended up winning his fourth match point after more than 2.5 hours of fighting.
In Monte Carlo, Nadal lost to Italy's Fabio Fognini and then to Thiem in Barcelona. For Tsitsipas, at the age of 20, he is the second Masters 1000 final of his career after the one played in Canada last summer.