Andrey Rublev, the defending champion, was eliminated from the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday after losing 6-4, 6-4 to Australian Alexei Popyrin, while world No. 2 Jannik Sinner breezed past his first test. Popyrin broke in the third game of the opening set, but Rublev broke to take a 3-1 lead in the second, only for the Australian to respond right after.
Popyrin led 5-4 after another break and held serve to advance to the third round for the first time. Russian fifth seed Rublev gets a bye into the second round. “The idea was not to give him the same ball,” Popyrin explained.
“He is probably the best player from the baseline when you give him rhythm, so I tried to change the pace, height and spin and I think it worked really well for me today.” Also read: Pablo Carreno Busta Net Worth 2024, Prize Money, Endorsements, Cars, Houses, Properties, Charities Etc.
Popyrin will face fellow Australian Alex De Minaur next, after the 11th seed defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 2-6 6-2 6-3. Italian Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over American Sebastian Korda.
Korda won their previous meeting in Adelaide last year, but was no match for Sinner, who also won the Miami and Rotterdam Opens this year.
Daniil Medvedev, the Russian fourth seed, defeated Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-4, but the French 37-year-old put up a fight in the second set. Monfils led 4-1, but Medvedev rallied and won five straight games to avoid a third set, but not before a controversy with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani.
“How can you apologize? I lost the blasted game; it’s a sport, guy. Medvedev replied, “You guys are getting ridiculous; with the Hawk Eye live, you can’t see anything.” After the game, Medvedev shook hands with the umpire, apologised, and then explained the circumstances.
“I am happy I managed to at one moment try to stay calm, to get my composure, that’s what I wanted to do more this year,” he went on to say. Also read: Paula Badosa Reveals Her Promise Made to Best Friend Aryna Sabalenka As She Doesn’t Want Her To Suffer