Greek teen Stefanos Tsitsipas became the youngest player to beat four top-10 players in an event since the ATP World Tour was established in 1990 by outlasting Kevin Anderson to reach the final of the Canadian Open.
Tsitsipas will celebrate his 20th birthday on Sunday by facing world No.1 Rafael Nadal in a bid for his first tour title just a fortnight out from the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
"Playing in a Masters 1000 final is the best thing that can happen on your birthday," Tsitsipas said.
"I cannot believe it."
Tsitsipas fought back from a set down and staved off a match point in the third-set tiebreaker to defeat South African world No.6 Anderson 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (9-7) on Saturday in Toronto.
Nadal, chasing his 80th tour title, beat Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in the rain-delayed night match that ended after midnight.
Nadal - a two-time champion in Canada - has four titles this year, all on clay at the French Open, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
The 32-year-old Spanish star beat Tsitsipas in April in the Barcelona final in their only meeting.
Tsitsipas beat Anderson after topping world No.3 and defending champion Alexander Zverev, 10th-ranked Novak Djokovic and Austrian world No.8 Dominic Thiem in the preceding three rounds.
"I'm capable of doing anything on the court and beating any opponent," Tsitsipas said.
Tsitsipas fired an ace for an 8-7 lead and converted his third match point when Anderson's return sailed long.
"I'm secure and I'm aggressive at the same time," Tsitsipas said.
"It feels like I'm never losing it. I'm always there. It doesn't matter what the score is."
The 32-year-old Anderson reached the Wimbledon final last month. He also lost his only other match against Tsitsipas, falling this year on clay in Portugal.
"I think the biggest thing I was impressed with was definitely his mentality," Anderson said about Tsitsipas.
"He stayed pretty solid throughout the match. Today, he definitely deserved to win."
Tsitsipas is attempting to become the first player since Albert Portas at Hamburg in 2001 to win his first ATP World Tour title at a Masters 1000 event.
Share
