Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas will not defend last year’s victory in the Champions Tournament. In a direct battle for promotion from the group, he lost to the Spaniard Rafael Nadal 4: 6, 6: 4, 2: 6.
After Tuesday’s defeat with Dominik Thiem, Nadal held on to win the first title from the Champions Tournament by winning over Tsitsipas. The world number two will play in the semifinals for the sixth time. Daniil Medvedev, a certain winner of the Tokyo 1970 group, will be the opponent of the 34-year-old Spaniard.
The group London 2000 was dominated by the Austrian Thiem, although he did not see his third victory in the basic part. In the afternoon match, he lost to the Russian newcomer to the final event of the season, Andrei Rublyov, lost 2: 6 and 5: 7.
Rubljov did not use the sword ball against Tsitsipas on Tuesday and before today’s farewell to the London O2 hall he was already without a chance to advance. Thiem, on the other hand, knew he would win the group and started lukewarmly. The champion of this year’s US Open lost in 26 minutes, until he equaled in the second strength on the court, however, Rubljov lost for the third time in a row.
With today’s defeat, Thiem lost the chance to knock Nadal out of second place in the world rankings. At the same time, he lost the opportunity to celebrate the 300th anniversary match won on the circuit. He refused to spare his strength for the semifinals.
“I didn’t think of that. I wanted to win, and to get those 200 points in the rankings, but on the other hand I have to admit that such a defeat does not hurt so much,” said Thiem.
On Saturday, he will play against the winner of Friday’s battle between number one Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.
Champions Tournament in London (hard surface, $ 5.7 million grant):
Singles – Group London 2000:
Nadal (2-Sp.) – Tsitsipas (6-Greek) 6: 4, 4: 6, 6: 2, Rublyov (7-RUS) – Thiem (3-AUT) 6: 2, 7: 5.
Final table:
| 1. | Thiem | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4:3 | 2 |
| 2. | Nadal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4:3 | 2 |
| 3. | Tsitsipas | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4:5 | 1 |
| 4. | Rubles | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3:4 | 1 |
Doubles – Mike Bryan Band:
Ram, Salisbury (2-USA / Brit.) – Krawietz, Mies (3-Germany) 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 7 (4: 7), 10: 4, Kubot, Melo (8-Pol ./Braz.) – Koolhof, Mektic (5-Niz./Chorv.) 6: 4, 6: 7 (2: 7), 10: 8.
Final table:
| 1. | Koolhof, Mektič | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5:3 | 2 |
| 2. | Ram, Salisbury | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4:4 | 2 |
| 3. | Krawietz, Mies | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4:4 | 1 |
| 4. | Kubot, Melo | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3:5 | 1 |
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