Jarry upsets Tsitsipas, reaches Rome SFs

Nicolas Jarry advanced to his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final Thursday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he rallied past sixth seed and 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The Chilean produced relentless power from the baseline, striking 23 forehand winners, including a 166 kilometres-per-hour bruiser, to spoil Tsitsipas’ quest for a third consecutive semi-final appearance in Rome.

“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 said in his on-court interview. “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.”

A key turning point came at 3-3 in the second set, when Jarry tallied five consecutive points from 0/40 and let out a massive roar to bring alive the Foro Italico crowd. The 21st seed was crisp from the back of the court and delivered some of his best tennis to win nine of the final 11 points in the second set, sending the match into a decider.

The 28-year-old displayed mental fortitude throughout the two-hour, 38-minute thriller, during which he fought off 11 of 13 break points faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Tsitsipas will rue letting slip two break points at 5-5, 15/40 in the second set that would have given him the chance to serve for the match had he converted.

But Jarry held his nerve under pressure and earned a dramatic break of his own at 5-4 in the third set, converting his fourth match point to improve to 4-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Tsitsipas.

“I always practise, always trying to find ways to be better, be stronger, be happier, enjoying it more,” Jarry said. “The last two matches, I’ve enjoyed it a lot so that’s my greatest achievement so far. Happy for that and that it’s brought me into the semis. [I will] try to continue this path. I’m playing pretty well, I just want to maintain it. That’s the toughest thing of all.”

No better place to create HISTORY 🏛️👏@NicoJarry outlasts Tsitsipas in a three set EPIC and books his spot in his first Masters 1000 semi-final!!!

He will face Paul for a place in the showpiece final.@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/fAO1JOfWdF

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 16, 2024

Jarry and countryman Alejandro Tabilo are the first Chilean duo to reach the semi-finals of an ATP Tour event since 2006 in Vina del Mar, where Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu made the last four.

The 6’7” Jarry, who is 15-11 on the season, is tied at his career-high No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Thursday’s quarter-final victory marks the three-time tour-level titlist’s 10th victory against a Top 10 player and third this season, having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Buenos Aires and Casper Ruud in Miami.

Jarry will face 14th seed Tommy Paul in Friday’s semi-finals. The Santiago native won their lone meeting at Roland Garros last year.