Stefanos Tsitsipas makes it to the Barcelona semifinals after saving two match points

Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked seventh in the world, defeated Facundo Diaz Acosta on Friday and advanced to the semi-finals of the Barcelona clay-court competition after saving two match chances.

In the last set, the Greek defeated his 53rd-ranked Argentine opponent 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/8), when the latter failed to convert a match point in the 12th game.

After both players saved more match points in the tie-breaker, Tsitsipas—who finished third in the Barcelona event three times—secured his eighth straight triumph, building on his victory in the Monte Carlo Masters the previous weekend.

In the semi-finals on Saturday, the 25-year-old Tsitsipas will take on either the world number 59 from Serbia, Dusan Lajovic, or the 36th-ranked Arthur Fils of France.

The sixth-ranked player in the world, Casper Ruud of Norway, who finished second to Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo, defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-3.

It’s not a simple task. You are competing to go to the semifinals,” Ruud said.

“After a few crazy rallies, I managed to win in the end.”

Along with securing his spot in the semi-finals, Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets after a fierce battle.

Etcheverry, who is rated 30 in the world, one spot ahead of Norrie, prevailed in a close match 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1) and will now play Ruud in the championship match.

The 24-year-old Etcheverry said, “I have to play aggressively to win this match. I spoke to my coach last night and also my team.”

“The tiebreaker was crucial. I had a great performance throughout the majority of the game.