Tsitsipas, Rublev, Svitolina embrace that winning feeling

 - Alex Sharp

Hamburg title showdown is set between the Greek and Russian as Svitolina stars in Strasbourg

Not all the big contenders are in Paris yet.

Silverware was up for grabs in Hamburg and Strasbourg at the weekend with match preparation providing a boost ahead of the action at Roland-Garros.

On Saturday Elina Svitolina lifted a 15th career title with a battling 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 victory over world No.18 Elena Rybakina.

Across the border men's world No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roland-Garros 13th seed Andrey Rublev put in exhilarating displays to reach Sunday's final in Hamburg.  

Tsitsipas (24-6) and Rublev (22-8) continue to compile impressive campaigns with tour-leading win counts. Only world No.1 Novak Djokovic has won more matches with 31 in 2020.

For Tsitsipas this is a welcome return to positivity on court. The ATP Finals champion surrendered six match points to lose against Borna Coric at the US Open.

Roland-Garros 2019 also delivered its share of heartache to the Greek. He fell in a five-set thriller to Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round after five hours of pulsating play.

The outlook heading to Paris will be much brighter for Tsitsipas, win or lose on Sunday, having booked his third final of 2020.

“It was nerve-wracking. Lots of nerves. It was very close but at the end I played with a lot of responsibility, took advantage of my strengths,” declared the 22-year-old, highlighting his mental fortitude in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Cristian Garin.

“I’m putting in a lot of dedication and hard work into every single game, mentally trying to stay there, it helped. I’m loving it here and I just want to give my best performances. “

The Greek, with a final under his belt, will be grateful for a confidence top-up ahead of taking on Spain’s Jaume Munar in his Roland-Garros opener.

Meanwhile Garin, who packed the highlights reels with sumptuous shot-making this week in Germany, continues to build his clay-court prowess. The world No.22 has won all four of his ATP trophies on the red dirt and will feel well in the groove to attack the field in Paris.

Earlier on Saturday, a ruthless Rublev dismissed Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2 for his ticket into back-to-back Hamburg finals.

“It’s first ever time that two years in a row I reached a final at the same tournament. For the moment, it is the most special tournament for me,” stated the 22-year-old, who opens his Roland-Garros account against American Sam Querrey.

“The match was really tough. I think everyone saw how tough it was, how many long rallies we had, how many chances both of us had. It could have been easily 6-4, 6-2 to Casper’s side, but I was a little bit lucky. In the most important moments and at the end, the match was for me.”

That’s the key for Rublev, not to get embroiled in long, gruelling matches. When he is efficient, in command and unleashing his full-artillery of rockets, very few will be able to stop him in Paris. 

As for Ruud, he has a high clay-court IQ and remember recently the 21-year-old beat Marin Cilic and Matteo Berrettini in Rome, before pushing Djokovic in a captivating duel. A fourth semi-final in five clay events this year illustrates the world No.30 is poised to make a deep run at Roland-Garros.

In Strasbourg world No.5 Svitolina was brilliant on the defence, saving eight of 10 break points, to withstand a barrage of shots from Rybakina in the final.

It had been a patchy season for Svitolina, but the Ukrainian found her range just in time for Roland-Garros.

“I couldn’t be happier with the week here in Hamburg. It wasn’t easy conditions, I’m very happy how I handled everything,” she said after also overcoming Aryna Sabalenka on Friday for a second top 20 win this year.

“Down in the second set, the match wasn’t in my hand. I re-grouped and this is really positive, it’s easy to get down on yourself and not fight.

“I came here to get matches after not playing US Open. I tried to get better, I got past a few great players. It makes me look forward to Roland-Garros now." 

Rybakina, taking on Sorana Cirstea in the Roland-Garros first round, is buoyed by her week’s work, but just like Tsitsipas, is seeking enhanced mental strength.  

“I think it was a really good week for me, with great matches. It means I’ve prepared really well for Roland-Garros, I’m ready,” reflected the 21-year-old.  

“I have to work on everything, especially my concentration, because my game is so aggressive. That will help me make better decisions and that will come with experience with matches like today.”