Djokovic in the Madrid final; Nadal not so lucky

"It was not my best night," said Nadal. "I knew what I had to do, it was clear to me, but I just was not able to do it.I did not have the right feeling of doing the things I wanted to do and that's all, we do not overdo it. "

Nadal, who is still looking for his first title of the season, had also failed to make the finals at Monte Carlo and Barcelona, ​​tournaments he had won in the last three seasons. He lost to Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo and Thiem in Barcelona. This is the first time since 2004 that Nadal arrived in Madrid without a title.

"I've gained a lot over the years on this surface," he said, "but that's not the case this year." I was very close, but I'm not sure about it. I have not managed to win. "

Nadal, who had not yet lost a set in Madrid this year, had beaten Tsitsipas in the previous three games, without losing a set, including in the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Twenty-year-old Tsitsipas converted his fourth match point to win the Magic Box center field.

"I'm really happy to have managed to keep my cool and to fight, it's probably one of the most difficult victories of my life," said Tsitsipas. "Adding variety and being unpredictable was the key today."

Tsitsipas played aggressively from the start, breaking Nadal's serve six times. He saved 11 of the 16 break opportunities that he conceded.

"I really liked my fighting spirit," he said. "I went to the field and I was mentally prepared for a fight."

Tsitsipas will play his fourth final of the season and will have the chance to become the first player to win three titles this year, which will contribute to his success in Estoril and Marseille. He is the most successful player on the circuit in 2019 with 27 wins.

"I have to be mentally ready for a tough game," said Tsitsipas, who beat Djokovic in Toronto last year. "His tennis is pretty good, so it will not be easy."

DJOKOVIC ON THE TOP

Djokovic can add to his Australian Open title on Sunday thanks to his victory over a fit Thiem, which reinforces his confidence in him.

"Dominic is one of the best tennis players in the world right now, especially on this surface, so it's a very big win for me," said Djokovic.

Thiem, fifth seeded, who defeated Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, had won two straight games against Djokovic and was trying to qualify for the third consecutive time in Madrid, after Nadal's defeats in 2017 and the second half. Alexander Zverev in 2018. The Austrian first player to win three titles this season, which has allowed Indian Wells and Barcelona to achieve success.