Barcelona Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Dusan Lajovic to set up rematch against Casper Ruud
Stefanos Tsitsipas maintained his unbeaten record on clay this season to set up a final rematch against Casper Ruud at the Barcelona Open.
The Greek is bidding to make it back-to-back titles after beating Ruud to the trophy in Monte-Carlo and he fought back from a set down to defeat Dusan Lajovic 5-7 6-4 6-2.
After saving match points in the previous round against Facundo Diaz Acosta, it was another battle for the world number seven, but he grew in dominance throughout the contest.
Ruud saw off Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (6) 6-4, and Tsitsipas is expecting a different challenge from the Norwegian.
"I am sure, having played someone a few days apart, they will come up with some new plans," said Tsitsipas, who has lost three times in the Barcelona final. "These kinds of matches are tricky, playing back-to-back."
At the BMW Open in Munich, American Taylor Fritz reached his first ATP Tour final on clay at the seventh attempt with a 6-3 6-4 win against Cristian Garin.
There he will meet home hope Jan-Lennard Struff, who raced to a 6-2 6-0 victory over two-time defending champion Holger Rune.