Tsitsipas digs deep to reach Paris QFs, stays alive in Turin race

Could Stefanos Tsitsipas’ hard-fought win on Thursday at the Rolex Paris Masters prove pivotal in his quest to qualify for his sixth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals?

The 10th seed dug deep for a 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2 triumph against Francisco Cerundolo to advance to his fourth quarter-final in Paris. With the victory, Tsitsipas climbed to 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, but he will need a run to the final to stay in contention.

The former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings crossed the line with conviction to progress in two hours, 21 minutes. It was Tsitsipas' second Lexus ATP Head2Head win over Cerundolo in as many weeks after he defeated the Argentine in their first-round clash in Basel.

Doing it the hard way ?@steftsitsipas rallies from a set down to defeat Cerundolo 6-7(1) 6-4 6-2 and reach the quarter-final in Paris for the fourth time!#RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/HguSKLhMQF

Cerundolo, who recorded his 100th tour-level win on Tuesday, failed to convert all three of the break points he created in the opening set, according to Infosys ATP Stats. However, he produced a steely tie-break to move in front.

Tsitsipas shifted to a more aggressive approach at the beginning of the second set, and was rewarded in the third game when he secured his first break. From there, the World No. 11 further raised his level to surge to victory.

In the last eight at the indoor ATP Masters 1000, Tsitsipas will face either third seed Alexander Zverev, who survived #NextGenATP star Arthur Fils in an epic. 

Earlier, Jordan Thompson edged past wild card Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 7-6(5) to reach his maiden quarter-final at an ATP Masters 1000. With his two-hour, 20-minute triumph, the Australian is up to a career-high of No. 26 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“It’s what we’ve been working towards, these big results at big tournaments,” said Thompson. “It got a little bit squeaky at the end there, but I did well to turn it around. I found some of my best points and managed to sneak out of the tie-break.”

Thompson saved two set points in the 12th game of the second set and rattled off four consecutive points from 3/5 in the tie-break to seal victory. The 30-year-old will face either home hope Ugo Humbert or World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the last four.

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