Tsitsipas Tstunned By Jarry, Paul Rallies Past Hurkacz In Rome Masters QFs; Zverev Title Favorite

Chile now has two representatives in the final four of a Masters event. At the Rome Masters on Thursday, Nicolas Jarry stunned big favorite Stefanos Tsitsipas from a set down 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The big Jarry is now 4-2 against the Greek. Tsitsipas, who has been so solid this clay season, got off to a flyer breaking to go up 3-1 in the opening set.

Jarry would get the lone break of the second, and it came at a perfect time – to win the set. Tsitsipas had a chance with love-40 at 3-all on the Jarry serve, nine points from the win.

In the third, the first two sets merged as Tsitsipas broke early, then Jarry would level before breaking again to win the match and reach his biggest career semifinal, joining countryman Alejandro Tabilo in the last four.

“I think beating Stefanos on clay is a good achievement. Certainly happy with my fight today, for how I played and how I maintained myself,” Jarry told the crowd. “I kept trying to find different ways to have chances on his serve. I knew I was playing good. I had to adjust some things in the backhand so he didn’t push me back, that’s why he played so good. I was able to do those things and I’m extremely happy for the win.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Tommy Paul outlasted No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in a thriller.

The big-serving Hurkacz led with a break 2-0 in the third. But that didn’t last long. The two would trade four more breaks with Paul getting the better, winning six of the last seven games and finally booking his first Masters semifinal on his sixth match point in a marathon ninth game.

“I started off pretty well, but things really got away from me there in the second set, and at the beginning of the third,” said Paul. “I just had to stick around, fake a little energy to get myself going there in the third. I started looking for my forehand more, started hitting it bigger, and playing with a little bit more intensity. That was probably the key for me in the end.”

Jarry won their lone meeting at the French Open last year in four sets. Both players are seeking a first Masters final.

The first semifinal sees former champion Alexander Zverev taking on the surprising Tabilo in a first-time meeting.

“Just getting here, first time playing Rome, never thought I’d be here right now,” Tabilo said Wednesday. “It’s just a crazy feeling. It’s been crazy two weeks.

“There’s still another match, so I got to regroup, keep thinking about my tennis, rest well, come out on Friday with everything I got.

“It’s been a crazy, crazy ride. Very honored to be able to play here in the semis on Friday.”

According to the ATP, this is the first time two Chileans are in the semifinals at a tour event since 2006 in Vina del Mar (Chile) where it was Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu.