Stefanos Tsitsipas upset Alexander Zverev 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 at the Madrid Open quarter-finals.
Zverev has yet to win a trophy this season and stands 4-5 on clay this spring.
“I'm really happy and satisfied with my performance. I think I deserved the match at the end. I was playing really well, feeling really comfortable on the court. When you feel like this, you can do miracles. So I'm really enjoying the process, really enjoying my stay here until now, and I really hope to do even better in the future,” Tsitsipas said.
"People were cheering my name, and they were very full of joy watching me play, and that gives me extra motivation," Tsitsipas said. "People are enjoying it. I'm enjoying it. It feels like a really nice atmosphere... I'm really glad people support me, and that people love my game."
Zverev yelled at the fans, prodding them to get more involved as he walked to his chair for the changeover. “Come on!” he shouted. “I can't hear you!” He then proceeded to win the next eight points and the second set but it was no enought for the defending champion.
“He's playing very good. He's obviously improved a lot. His serve is very, very good, I was surprised today. And the second shot, he hits it unbelievably aggressive so it was not easy. I actually thought I played really well the first two sets,” said Zverev, who had three break points at 1-1 in the third. “If I played a little more aggressive in that third set on break points, maybe I go up a break and win the match as well. But everything happens for a reason.”
Tsitsipas will face Rafael Nadal, who beat Stan Wawrinka, for a place in the final.
