Stefanos Tsitsipas is having his most productive week of the season, as he secured his return to an ATP final after 17 full months! The Greek tennis player defeated Alexander Shevchenko 2-1 in sets, in a match marked by high intensity and dramatic twists and turns.

In the first set, Tsitsipas came out with a clear game plan, kept his serve flawless, and took the lead 6-4. The second set was reminiscent of his match against Rinderknech: His rhythm faltered, Shevchenko found ways to counter, and evened the score at 3-6. Nevertheless, the Greek champion didn’t let the match slip away.

In the third set, he showed character. Although he missed two break points in the sixth game, he persisted, applied pressure, and ultimately made the decisive break in the eighth. From there on, he never looked back, closing out the match in 1 hour and 53 minutes. This was Tsitsipas’s first victory over the Kazakhstani player in their two head-to-head matches.

More importantly, however, he is returning to an ATP final, vying for the 13th title of his career. His opponent will be Rafael Collignon, who reached the final with an impressive comeback victory over Manuel Cerundolo (1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5).

The Swiss Open Gstaad final will take place on Sunday (July 20) at 12:30 p.m., with Tsitsipas looking to return to the top and get his season back on track.

*photo source: AP