Tsitsipas, Musetti and Zverev advance to the semifinals in Acapulco

Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, first seed, beat Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 this Thursday and qualified for the semifinal of the Mexican Tennis Open, ATP-500 tournament based in the resort of Acapulco.

Auger-Aliassime, eighteenth in the ATP rankings, challenged the top seed of the tournament and broke his serve in the very first game. Tsitsipas broke in the sixth game, after which the two showed a high level with good winning shots.

In the twelfth game, Tsitsipas went looking for the break with 'passing shots' and good returns; with that took the lead 0-40 and headed for a 7-5 win in a set in which both made eight unforced errors, but the Greek made more winners, 12 to 9 from his opponent.

The 20-year-old Canadian did not shrink; again he broke the service to the Greek, this time in the third game, in which he made a difference with a couple of volleys in his favor; Tsitsipas tried to react, but he found a rival with good defense who made changes of rhythm in his game and took the set 6-4.

The two players saved the best for the third set, decided by half a minute of deconcentration of Auger-Aliassime.

Dominant with their serves, precise when trying to improvise and with good returns, the two rivals neutralized each other.

In the seventh game Tsitsipas raised a 0-30 and celebrated as if he had won Wimbledom; Animate, he tried to break down and the gift came to him without him participating. The Canadian lost his concentration, committed two consecutive double faults and that was the end of the duel.

The Greek acknowledged that it was a tough duel, but he was persistent against a very good tennis opponent who is having a good time, “said Tsitsipas, who put the public in the bag by rehearsing phrases in Spanish such as “No te rajes”, “Sí se Podemos” and “Viva México”.

Musetti surprises Dimitrov and Zverev advances after Ruud's withdrawal

Italian Lorenzo Musetti was confirmed early this Friday as the revelation of the Mexican Tennis Open by beating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 7-6 (3) and access the semifinals.

At the Acapulco spa, the 19-year-old showed great variety in his game and character at zero hour to eliminate in an epic duel the fifth favorite of the tournament, the sixteenth player in the world.

Musetti gave early notice that he was going for everything. He broke Dimitrov's serve in the fourth game and although the Bulgarian recovered it in the seventh, the transalpine insisted with his deadly one-handed backhand and squeezed the rival. With great travels and changes of pace, Musetti broke his opponent's serve in the 10th game and took the victory 6-4.

For the second sleeve Dimitrov, adding numerous unforced errors, looked better. With a good backhand and patience, he took the lead 3-2 with the serve of Musetti, but in the sixth game the Italian reached it.

From there there was a lot of struggle for each point; in the tenth, Dimitrov saved four 'match points' and in the twelfth, one more to force the 'tie break'.

In the tiebreaker, the Italian confirmed to be a better player than his ranking. Dimitrov made a mini break with a return at the net, but double faulted, after which the duel went one-sided, in favor of Musetti.

With Dimitrov on duty, Musetti took out his venomous backhand and took the initiative (4-2), to which he added a great play at the net to escape 5-2, after which he only had to maintain his patience to win 7-3.

“I have never played so many games in my life, six including the qualifying tournament, but my legs are fine. With this triumph, I will enter the top 100 in the ranking, it is a child's dream that I make come true, “said the young man.

Musetti that in this tournament eliminated Argentine Diego Schwartzman, third seed, and American Frances Tiafoe, will face Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas this Friday.

In the other semi-final, the German Alexander Zverev, who defeated the Norwegian Casper Ruud by 'default', injured, will play with his compatriot Dominik Koepfer, winner 7-5, 6-4 of Briton Cameron Norrie.