Tsitsipas saves two match points to reach Barcelona semifinals

World No 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas saved two match points to defeat Facundo Diaz Acosta and reach the semifinals of the Barcelona clay-court tournament on Friday.

The Greek came through 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) after his 53rd-ranked Argentine opponent missed a match point in the 12th game of the deciding set.

Both men then saved more match points in the tie-breaker before Tsitsipas, a three-time runner-up at the Barcelona tournament, secured a ninth successive win following on from his Monte Carlo Masters title victory at the weekend.

Tsitsipas survives BCN thriller! 😲🇪🇸@StefTsitsipas fends off two match points 🆚 Diaz Acosta to return to the final four @bcnopenbs | #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/z36NtGpCs8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 19, 2024

The 25-year-old Tsitsipas will face Dusan Lajovic in the semifinals on Saturday after the world number 59 from Serbia defeated 36th-ranked Arthur Fils of France 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Casper Ruud, the world No 6 from Norway who was runner-up to Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo, eased past Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-3.

"It is not easy. You are playing for a spot in the semifinals," said Ruud.

"I was able to come through in the end after a few crazy rallies."

Ruthless Ruud 🙅‍♂️

Now 24-0 this season after taking the first set, @CasperRuud98 defeats Arnaldi 6-4, 6-3

@bcnopenbs | #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/QA5rNmWkoS

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 19, 2024

Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry also booked his place in the semifinals with a hard-fought straight sets win over Britain's Cameron Norrie.

Etcheverry, ranked 30 in the world, one place higher Norrie, edged a tight match 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1) and will face Ruud for a place on the final.

"I spoke to my coach last night and also my team, that I have to play aggressively to win this match," the 24-year-old Etcheverry said.

"The tie-break was key. I played really good in that part of the match."