Stefanos Tsitsipas made short work of the eighth seed Casper Ruud as he seized a third Monte Carlo Masters title in four years with a 6-1, 6-4 victory on Sunday.
The world No 12 dominated proceedings against his fellow 25-year-old from the onset, cruising through six consecutive games to wrap up the opening set in 36 minutes.
The second set was a much closer affair but Tsitsipas proved too strong for the Norwegian, as he became the first player in the professional era to win his first three Monte Carlo finals in straight sets. Tsitsipas, who handed the Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner just his second defeat of the year in the semi-finals, secured his first title of 2024, for a career haul of 11. The Greek joins Rafael Nadal, Björn Borg, Thomas Muster and Ilie Nastase as winners of at least three Monte Carlo titles.
“It’s been very difficult. To be back on the podiums and winning tournaments feels amazing,” Tsitsipas said. “I can’t thank enough my family and friends … for making this possible. The trinity is even more special than the first or second time. This is purely unbelievable for me. Capturing that win today was nerve-wracking. I really wanted the trinity so I got it. I’m extremely happy today.”
Having come into the clay-court Masters 1000 event with an 11-6 win-loss record for 2024, Tsitsipas will return to the world’s top 10 on Monday after dropping out for the first time since 2019 earlier in the year. But it was yet another heartbreak for the former French and US Open finalist Ruud, who had stunned world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the semis. Ruud also lost the Mexican and Los Cabos Open final earlier this year.
“I’d like to congratulate Stef for winning Monte Carlo once again,” Ruud said. “You love this tournament. Very, very well played all week. I know you fell out of [the] top 10 a few weeks ago but you’re back again where I think you belong. You’re a fantastic player and especially on clay and Monte Carlo … Congratulations to you and your team.”
Meanwhile, the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona Open due to a right-arm injury that also forced the Spanish world No 3 to miss Monte Carlo. The 20-year-old two-time grand slam champion won the tournament in 2022 and 2023. He has won one title this year, at Indian Wells last month.
“[He] has suffered from the injury sustained in Monte Carlo, and did not have a good feeling in his training on Sunday and, despite having tried until the last moment, he will not be in the Barcelona Open,” organisers said on X. The main draw of the Barcelona Open starts on Monday, with the tournament concluding next Sunday.
Source: theguardian.com
