Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the Barcelona Open quarter-final. The four-time beaten finalist faced Sebastian Korda in the second round and prevailed 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 37 minutes to remain on the title course.
Korda fought well against the more experienced clay-courter. The American collected only four points less than the Greek, feeling the pressure but dropping serve only once in the second set. Stefanos kept his composure throughout the duel and advanced into the last eight.
Se cobra la revanchaðŸ˜
Stefanos Tsitsipas🇬🇷 y Sebastián Korda🇺🇸 se volvieron a ver las cara, esta vez en Barcelona donde el griego salió avante por 7-6 y 6-4#BCNOpenBS
pic.twitter.com/tQPTtiS11r
— Iván Aguilar (@ivabianconero) April 16, 2025
They were completely equal behind the first serve. Stefanos made the difference behind the second and kept his rival away from break chances. He generated seven, three in the 12th game of the opener, and seized one in set number two.
Both players hit 15 winners. Stefanos stayed on 30 unforced errors, while Sebastian added 35. Korda collected eight points more in service winners and at the net, and Tsitsipas erased the deficit with a fine performance from the baseline.
The servers hit the zone right from the start, leaving nothing to the returners in the opening 11 games of the duel. Sebastian landed a service winner in the eighth game for a hold at love and 4-4. Stefanos clinched the next one with an unreturned serve for his fifth advantage.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Barcelona 2025© Stream screenshot
The American provided another hold at love with a volley winner at the net to level the score at 5-5. Tsitsipas stepped in on the return at 6-5 and generated three set points. He missed a routine return on the third, squandering his chances and allowing his rival to introduce a tie break.
The first mini-break came in the sixth point when Korda played a loose drop shot and fell 4-2 behind. The Greek grabbed another mini-break and forged a 5-2 advantage. Stefanos missed two set points before seizing the third after Sebastian's loose forehand, moving 7-6 up after 49 minutes.
Sebastian Korda, Barcelona 2025© Stream screenshot
Carried by this boost, Tsitsipas attacked in the third game of the second set and drew the rival's mistake for two break points. The four-time finalist landed a smash winner on the second, opening a set and a break advantage and moving closer to the finish line.
The 3rd seed closed the fourth game with a service winner and cemented the lead. He held after deuces in game six to keep his initial shot intact and move 4-2 up. Sebastian faced two break points in the seventh game.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Barcelona 2025© Stream screenshot
He saved them with a service winner and a forced error before holding with a forehand crosscourt winner to remain within one break deficit. Stefanos left those chances behind and clinched the eighth game at 15 with an unreturned serve.
Korda served to stay in the match at 3-5 and landed a service winner to prolong the battle. Tsitsipas served for the win at 5-4 and generated a match point after a loose slice from the other side. Sebastian missed a forehand to finish on the losing side and propel his rival through.
