Russia’s Andrey Rublev (C) reacts as he leaves the courtroom on the finish of his Monte Carlo ATP Masters Collection Match spherical of 32 tennis match towards Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on the Rainier III courtroom on the Monte Carlo Nation Membership on April 10, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
Andrey Rublev’s Monte Carlo Masters title defence ended on the first hurdle on Wednesday with a straight-sets defeat by Australian Alexei Popyrin, whereas Jannik Sinner eased by way of.
The Russian by no means obtained going within the second-round tie as Popyrin eased to a 6-4, 6-4 win on the conventional clay courtroom warm-up for the French Open.
The world quantity 46 will face compatriot Alex de Minaur, who beat Tallon Griekspoor in three units, for a potential quarter-final towards Novak Djokovic.
“I loved popping out on centre courtroom for the primary time. First match on clay of the 12 months and I’ve good reminiscences from clay final 12 months,” mentioned Popyrin, who received his second ATP title in Croatia on clay in 2023.
“I’m feeling actually snug on it and completely satisfied to beat a man who was in type, assured and the defending champ. It was an superior match.”
The loss prolonged a poor run of type for Rublev, after a defeat in his opening match towards Tomas Machac in Miami and shedding to Jiri Lehecka within the Indian Wells final 32.
The sixth seed had a break level to stage at 5-5 within the second set, however discovered the online and Popyrin closed out the victory.
Rublev lifted his first Masters 1000 title in Monaco final 12 months by beating Holger Rune within the last.
Australian Open champion Sinner cruised by way of, although, seeing off American Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-2.
The world quantity two transformed seven of the 12 break factors he created and saved all three of those he confronted in a dominant efficiency.
The Italian will subsequent play Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany within the final 16.
“Yearly, it is powerful to come back right here and attempt to carry out nicely, however I am very completely satisfied about this efficiency and let’s examine what’s coming within the subsequent spherical,” mentioned Sinner, who misplaced to Rune within the semi-finals 12 months in the past.
“I have not served very nicely, however I returned very nicely, I stayed near the baseline.”
Offended Medvedev by way of
Daniil Medvedev made brief work of a probably tough opening tie with Gael Monfils, sealing a 6-2, 6-4 win.
But it surely was not all plain crusing for the Russian on courtroom as he remonstrated with umpire Mohamed Lahyani over a line-judge name.
Trailing 4-1 within the second set, Medvedev recovered his composure to win 5 straight video games and open his clay courtroom season with an authoritative win.
“It was a tactical sport right here and there however I felt good,” mentioned Medvedev.
“I performed good pace the place I may defend nicely and never give him (Monfils) two straightforward balls.”
The world quantity 4 will subsequent go head-to-head with fellow Russian Karen Khachanov within the third spherical, with both Alexander Zverev or Stefanos Tsitsipas ready within the final eight.
Talking about his subsequent opponent, the 2021 US Open champion mentioned: “I believe Karen likes (clay) extra however I can play nicely on clay… Even when I’m 45 I can say I’ve a Rome Masters title, so I can play nicely on it and I’m completely satisfied about it.”
Medvedev has reached at the very least the semi-finals in all 4 of his earlier tournaments to date this season.
Two-time champion Tsitsipas confirmed indicators of a return to his greatest, thrashing Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 6-0 in simply over an hour.
French 14th seed Ugo Humbert progressed with a 6-1, 6-4 success towards China’s Zhang Zhizhen.
He’ll subsequent tackle Lorenzo Sonego, who ensured former top-10 participant Felix Auger-Aliassime’s depressing run of type continued, successful 6-4, 7-5.
Italy’s Sonego solely reached the principle draw as a fortunate loser after the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz.
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz additionally went by way of in straight units, defeating Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).
Three-time Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud is up subsequent for Hurkacz, after the Norwegian brushed apart Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-4.
Rain then swept in in the course of the early night, forcing the suspension of play with seventh- and ninth-seeds Rune and Grigor Dimitrov each one set to the nice respectively.
Play will resume Thursday with Denmark’s Rune up a set and a break towards Indian Sumit Nagal and Miami Open finalist Dimitrov main Serb Miomir Kecmanovic.
