Monte Carlo Masters Archives

Dimitrov edges past Ruud to qualify for Monte Carlo Masters Quarter-finals

FRANCE: Grigor Dimitrov continued his outstanding run in the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters as he upset Casper Ruud in the third round to qualify for the quarter-finals, here on Thursday.

The World number 29 Dimitrov is enjoying an exceptional tournament in the clay-court event as he stunned the fourth seed Ruud in his latest triumph.

With this victory, Dimitrov has booked his place in the last eight of the tournament after 2013 and 2015. He also booked a semi-final spot in 2018.

The Bulgarian tennis star displayed complete domination and control, stepping deep behind the baseline at times to take large cuts at the ball. He completed his victory over Ruud by 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 31 minutes to advance into the quarter-finals of the tournament.

In another third-round match, Taylor Fritz thumped Sebastian Kroda 7-6(4), 7-5 in the All-American clash to book a spot in the quarter-finals.

Kroda, who stunned the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, could not carry on his momentum as he suffered a crushing defeat by his countryman.

With a victory in the third round, Fritz will now play Marrakech champion David Goffin or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who shocked World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Sebastian Kroda stuns Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo Masters

FRANCE: United States America (USA)’s Sebastian Kroda earned the most shocking victory of the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters as he thumped the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the second round.

World number 11 Alcaraz, who took the clay court of Monte Carlo Masters in a red hot form having captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Miami, suffered a shock loss against USA’s Kroda.

The 18-years-old Alcaraz, who made his debut on the clay court, found it hard to cope with the heavy strikes of Kroda.

The American tennis player, despite being a break down in the third set, bounced back and went on to beat the young Spaniard 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-3 and advanced into the third round of the ongoing tournament.

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World No.1 Novak Djokovic suffers early exit from Monte Carlo Masters

FRANCE: The top-ranked Tennis player – Novak Djokovic suffered an early exit from the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters after suffering a first-round defeat against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, here on Tuesday.

The world number one Djokovic, who has won 20 grand slam titles, lost his opening match for the first time after losing to Marin Klizan in 2018.

Returning to the court for the first time since February, Djokovic suffered a stunning defeat by Spain’s world number 46 Fokina, who proved too good for the top-ranked Djokovic in the deciding frame.

The Serbian tennis star Djokovic made 51 errors in his clash against Fokina to go out 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 in the second round.

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Wawrinka suffers Monte Carlo Masters opening round loss on return

FRANCE: Stan Wawrinka lost to Alexander Bublik in the opening round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday as the three-time Grand Slam champion played his first ATP Tour match in 13 months.

Wawrinka, who won the Monte Carlo title in 2014, was beaten 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 by Bublik on his return from a left foot injury that forced him to undergo two surgeries last year.

The 37-year-old was unable to maintain the momentum against Bublik, 24, who claimed his first win at the event in two hours and five minutes.

The former world number three has dropped to 236 in the rankings having last played on the main tour in Qatar in March 2021.

The Swiss took his first tentative steps back on the court at a second-tier Challenger event in Marbella last month but was defeated in the first round.

Bublik ranked 36th, will meet Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round, the Spaniard getting past Argentine qualifier Sebastian Baez 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Argentine Federico Delbonis beat Jaume Munar 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to set up a clash with second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany.

Italy’s Fabio Fognini, ranked 32, took 2hr 29min to get past France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, and next meets Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Fellow Italian Jannik Sinner has beaten Croat Borna Coric 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Argentine Diego Schwartzman battled past Russian Karen Khachanov 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3 with the 12th seed next facing Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the second round.

On Tuesday, World number one Novak Djokovic will return to action against 46th ranked Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The Serb’s only appearance in 2022 was in Dubai in February where he played just three matches due to his refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

This year’s tournament is being played in front of full crowds for the first time since 2019 after the 2020 event was cancelled and the 2021 edition staged behind closed doors.

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