Defending Monte Carlo Masters Champion Ousted in Straight Sets
In a surprising turn of events at the prestigious Monte Carlo Masters, defending champion Andrey Rublev has been knocked out of the tournament in the second round. The sixth-seeded Russian was defeated in straight sets by unseeded Australian player Alexei Popyrin, who triumphed with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
Popyrin, who is 24 years old, expressed his delight at securing this significant victory over the reigning champion, stating, “I am feeling really comfortable. [I am] happy to beat a guy who was in form, confident and the defending champ.”
Elsewhere in the tournament, second seed Jannik Sinner of Italy has booked his place in the last 16. The Australian Open champion brushed aside American Sebastian Korda in straight sets, winning 6-1, 6-2 in his first match on clay this year. Sinner will now face unseeded German player Jan-Lennard Struff on Thursday.
The Monte Carlo Masters has already witnessed the early exit of several top players, as Rublev becomes the first of the top six seeds to be eliminated. Additionally, third seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury on Tuesday.
In other results, two-time champion and 12th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece has booked his place in the third round, defeating Argentine Tomas Etcheverry in straight sets. Tsitsipas will now face fifth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, who defeated Austria’s Sebastian Ofner on Monday.
As the Monte Carlo Masters continues, tennis fans are eagerly anticipating more thrilling matches and potential upsets among the sport’s legends and rising talents.
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