Will Tsitsipas Conquer His Final Frontier at Barcelona Open?

Stefanos Tsitsipas sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown with Casper Ruud this Sunday, striving to claim the Barcelona Open Ban Sabadell-Trofeo Conde de Godó title that's eluded him thrice, blocked by titans Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in past years. "Back in the final, with three under my belt, I'm wearing confidence like a second skin," Tsitsipas proclaimed, having ousted Dusan Lajovic in the semifinals. "Finales are the big show, but my play's gotta stay every day casual," he added, eyeing the level of play that's served him well in recent days.

"Every final's a thrill, a fresh vibe, but it's all about sticking to the game plan that got you here," Tsitsipas points out, drawing parallels to chess where staying dynamic and positive is key, regardless of the game's turns.

Facing Ruud, a déjà vu of their Montecarlo face-off—only this time, it's expected to be even more intense. "A whole different ball game against Casper, but I'm set to retrace last week's winning steps," says a determined Tsitsipas, mindful of Ruud’s recent form. Rest and mental freshness are his prior tasks to ensure he’s primed for a formidable encounter on the court.