Shanghai: Roger Federer was given a point penalty as he followed Novak Djokovic out of the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals in a bad-tempered defeat to Alexander Zverev on Friday.
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The 22-year-old German won 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 as the Swiss legend Federer was penalised after twice hitting the ball out the court in anger.
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The sixth-ranked Zverev faces Austria’s Dominic Thiem or Matteo Berrettini of Italy in the semi-finals on Saturday.
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The 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer saved five match points to force a deciding set, but he then became engaged in a continual war of words with the umpire.
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The 38-year-old’s trademark cool evaded him as the new generation of men’s tennis stars took centre stage in Shanghai.
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His point deduction came at 3-0 and 30-15 down in the third set, as he threatened to unravel.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas said that he scares the “Big Three” after the young Greek stunned world number one Djokovic in their quarter-final.
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The 21-year-old has now defeated Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal this year to burnish his fast-growing reputation.
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On Saturday though he faces the red-hot 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev – who he has never beaten.
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Tsitsipas recovered from losing the opening three games in just seven minutes to shock the reigning champion Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
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Calling it the best comeback of his nascent career, the seventh-ranked Tsitsipas said he had dreamt of beating the “Big Three”.
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But rather than being intimidated by them, Tsitsipas said: “I honestly feel like they are more threatened than I am and that makes me more relaxed on court.
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“I know I just have to hang in there and be able to be more aggressive.
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“Once you get aggressive and they see you going for it, I might even say they get scared.”
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It was a double celebration for Tsitsipas, who also confirmed his place in the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals.
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Tsitsipas sealed the deal with a gleeful smash and held both arms aloft. Djokovic met his opponent with a warm embrace at the net.
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Djokovic, who had looked imperious up until now, had no complaints.
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“He deserved the victory, he was the better player,” said the 32-year-old Serbian.
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“Second and third set I started off very well, but then I wasn’t sharp.
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“I lacked that little bit of dynamic movement and acceleration in my shots.”
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Asked if Tsitsipas has the potential to be number one, Djokovic replied: “He definitely has, yes.”
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Djokovic says that he is fully recovered from a shoulder injury and he did not drop a set in winning the title in Tokyo last week.
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He had carried that ominous form into Shanghai and threatened to blow Tsitsipas away in the first set.
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But Tsitsipas found his feet in the second set, then went 3-1 up in the decider when Djokovic planted a forehand wide on the third break point.
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Tsitsipas grabbed his place at the ATP Finals after fourth-ranked Medvedev tamed self-styled “wild horse” Fabio Fognini 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
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Fognini was vying for a ticket to the Finals in London.
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