Tsitsipas Shocked By Struff, Sets Unlikely LL-Q Madrid Masters SF v Karatsev; Alcaraz Clear Favorite

One of the most surprise semifinals in Masters history was set today as two players from qualifying won to make the last four in Madrid.

Former Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev showcased his power game dismissing rising Chinese star Zhizhen Zhang 7-6(7-3), 6-4.

“I am happy with my condition. Back to the top level,” Karatsev said to the ATP. “Playing well and feeling well. From the qualifying, match by match, it has got harder, so mentally you have to be there more. Because your opponent doesn’t give you any free points so you have to be there yourself. The important thing is now recover well.”

Karatsev, who also made the Melbourne semifinals as a qualifier, lost just eight points on first serve and saved all three break points he faced en route to his first Masters semifinal.

Both players had break chances early with Karatsev escaping a love-40 at 1-all. The Russian converted to start the second and that was all he would need.

In the night quarter, former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned by lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(7-5), 5-7, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Struff, who had been battling injuries including a right foot last year, reaches the biggest semifinal of his career. He fired 14 aces and converted his only break chance of the match at 2-1 in the third during a 12-point game.

Tsitsipas would miss a break chance later at 4-2 and earlier in the match the Greek had a set point in the first.

“It feels amazing. It was a very, very hard battle. I knew before I needed to perform at my best,” Struff said on court. “Very, very happy that I played this well today. The crowd was amazing. It was an unbelievable atmosphere and really, really happy that I won.”

So Karatsev or Struff will reach their first Masters final. They’ve never played in the main draw but Karatsev beat him last week in the qualifying!

“Aslan is playing amazing this week so far and he beat me pretty easily in qualies I need to say. I didn’t play the best tennis in that match, but he made me play not good I feel like,” Struff added. “I think we need to analyse it now, focus on the match tomorrow and I hope I can do better.”

According to the ATP, the last time a lucky loser and a qualifier met in an ATP semifinal was 2020 Rio when qualifier Gianluca Mager defeated lucky loser Attila Balazs.

Struff is the first lucky loser to make a Masters semifinal since Lucas Pouille at 2016 Rome. Tomas Johansson also made the 2004 Canadian final four.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz is now the huge favorite to repeat with Tsitsipas out. Alcaraz will take on Borna Coric in a first-time meeting.

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