Defending champion Andrey Rublev was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters in a 6-4 6-4 second-round loss to Australian Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday as world number two Jannik Sinner eased through his first test. Popyrin broke in the third game of the first set, but Rublev broke to take a 3-1 lead in the second, only for the Australian hit back immediately.

A further break made it 5-4 to Popyrin and he held serve to reach the third round for the first time. Russian fifth seed Rublev had received a bye into the second round.

"The idea was not to give him the same ball," Popyrin said. "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."

Popyrin will face fellow Australian Alex de Minaur next, after the 11th seed beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 2-6 6-2 6-3. Italian Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, eased into the third round with a 6-1 6-2 win over American Sebastian Korda.

Korda won their last meeting, in Adelaide last year, but was no match for the in-form Sinner, who also won this year's Miami Open and Rotterdam Opens. Sinner, who broke Korda in the opening game of the match and was never threatened, will next meet German Jan-Lennard Struff who he beat at Indian Wells in March.

Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev came through against Gael Monfils 6-2 6-4, but was given a tough test by the French 37-year-old in the second set.

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Monfils led 4-1, however, Medvedev recovered and won five games in a row to avoid a third set, but not before a disagreement with the chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani.

The Russian was clearly angry with a decision, whacking the umbrella over his seat, and when Lahyani said he would apologise if he was wrong, it only increased Medvedev's frustration. "How can you apologise, I lost the freaking game, it's a freaking sport man. You guys are getting ridiculous, with the Hawk Eye live you don't see anything," Medvedev said.

After the game, Medvedev shook hands and apologised to the umpire, and later explained the situation. "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 said.

"There are going to be moments when I still go crazy... but I am 99% sure the ball was out. It's a pity because I would have won the game and maybe I win 6-2, but I am happy that even from 4-1, I managed to come back and win the set."

Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud beat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 6-4 and will meet Hubert Hurkacz in the third round after the Pole came through 7-5 7-6(4) against Roberto Bautista Agut.

Defending champion Andrey Rublev was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters in a 6-4 6-4 second-round loss to Australian Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday as world number two Jannik Sinner eased through his first test.

Defending champion Andrey Rublev was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters in a 6-4 6-4 second-round loss to Australian Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday as world number two Jannik Sinner eased through his first test. Popyrin broke in the third game of the first set, but Rublev broke to take a 3-1 lead in the second, only for the Australian hit back immediately. A further break made it 5-4 to Popyrin and he held serve to reach the third round for the first time. Russian fifth seed Rublev had received a bye into the second round. "The idea was not to give him the same ball," Popyrin said. "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." Popyrin will face fellow Australian Alex de Minaur next, after the 11th seed beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 2-6 6-2 6-3. Italian Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, eased into the third round with a 6-1 6-2 win over American Sebastian Korda. Korda won their last meeting, in Adelaide last year, but was no match for the in-form Sinner, who also won this year's Miami Open and Rotterdam Opens. Sinner, who broke Korda in the opening game of the match and was never threatened, will next meet German Jan-Lennard Struff who he beat at Indian Wells in March. Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev came through against Gael Monfils 6-2 6-4, but was given a tough test by the French 37-year-old in the second set. Also read: Badminton: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy advance to Round of 16 in Asia Championships Monfils led 4-1, however, Medvedev recovered and won five games in a row to avoid a third set, but not before a disagreement with the chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani. The Russian was clearly angry with a decision, whacking the umbrella over his seat, and when Lahyani said he would apologise if he was wrong, it only increased Medvedev's frustration. "How can you apologise, I lost the freaking game, it's a freaking sport man. You guys are getting ridiculous, with the Hawk Eye live you don't see anything," Medvedev said. After the game, Medvedev shook hands and apologised to the umpire, and later explained the situation. "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 said. "There are going to be moments when I still go crazy... but I am 99% sure the ball was out. It's a pity because I would have won the game and maybe I win 6-2, but I am happy that even from 4-1, I managed to come back and win the set." Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud beat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 6-4 and will meet Hubert Hurkacz in the third round after the Pole came through 7-5 7-6(4) against Roberto Bautista Agut.

Tennis: Defending champion Andrey Rublev out of Monte Carlo Masters, Jannik Sinner marches ahead

World number one Novak Djokovic made an emphatic start at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-1 6-2 win over Russia's Roman Safiullin to ease into the third round at a rain-delayed day three on Tuesday (April 9).

Djokovic, who pulled out of the recent Miami Open as he tries to balance his schedule, looked fresh as he broke Safiullin's serve three times in the opening set, and a further two breaks in the second was enough to seal the win.

Hubert Hurkacz is into the second round with a 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) win, but was made to battle by Britain's Jack Draper after the Polish 10th seed looked like dominating early on.

Hurkacz, who also beat Draper at last year's tournament, will face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the second round.

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Alex de Minaur had little trouble seeing off the challenge of former champion Stan Wawrinka, winning 6-3 6-0 to progress to the second round.

Wawrinka won the title in 2014, but a decade later the Swiss 39-year-old was no match for the Australian 11th seed, who needed only 24 minutes to complete a bagel in the second set, and will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

World number one Novak Djokovic made an emphatic start at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-1 6-2 win over Russia's Roman Safiullin to ease into the third round at a rain-delayed day three on Tuesday (April 9).

World number one Novak Djokovic made an emphatic start at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-1 6-2 win over Russia's Roman Safiullin to ease into the third round at a rain-delayed day three on Tuesday (April 9). Djokovic, who pulled out of the recent Miami Open as he tries to balance his schedule, looked fresh as he broke Safiullin's serve three times in the opening set, and a further two breaks in the second was enough to seal the win. Hubert Hurkacz is into the second round with a 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) win, but was made to battle by Britain's Jack Draper after the Polish 10th seed looked like dominating early on. Hurkacz, who also beat Draper at last year's tournament, will face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the second round. ALSO READ | Champions League: Real Madrid-Man City settle for frantic draw at Bernabeu; Bayern-Arsenal finishes all square Alex de Minaur had little trouble seeing off the challenge of former champion Stan Wawrinka, winning 6-3 6-0 to progress to the second round. Wawrinka won the title in 2014, but a decade later the Swiss 39-year-old was no match for the Australian 11th seed, who needed only 24 minutes to complete a bagel in the second set, and will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

Tennis: Novak Djokovic sails through as Alex de Minaur thrashes Stan Wawrinka at Monte Carlo

India’s Sumit Nagal scripted history on Monday (April 8) after he became the first Indian tennis star to win an ATP Masters 1000 match at the Monte Carlo Open. Nagal, one of India’s top performers on the ATP circuit, has been making headlines in recent times and added another feather to his impressive hat when he got the better of 38th-ranked Matteo Arnaldi on Monday. In doing so he also became the first Indian since 1990 to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay. Here we take a look at who is Sumit Nagal and his rise in the ATP circuit.

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🇮🇳 CINEMA 🇮🇳 
 
Doubles world No.1 <a href="https://twitter.com/rohanbopanna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rohanbopanna</a> watching on as <a href="https://twitter.com/nagalsumit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nagalsumit</a> becomes the first Indian to win a singles main draw match in Monte Carlo!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolexMonteCarloMasters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolexMonteCarloMasters</a> <a href="https://t.co/vJpYIFCcME">pic.twitter.com/vJpYIFCcME</a>
— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ROLEXMCMASTERS/status/1777327294463246363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Early life of Sumit&nbsp;Nagal</h2>

Born in Jhajjar district of India’s Haryana state, Nagal started getting his tennis lessons at the age of eight. However, it was not until 10 that he started taking professional tennis lessons and moved to Bengaluru to train at Mahesh Bhupathi's training academy. He was handpicked by Bhupathi as part of a future initiative programme aimed at developing young tennis stars. However, the programme&nbsp;was soon closed which forced Nagal to move outside India for future lessons. Nagal moved to Toronto to train&nbsp;with Coach Bobby Mahal.

<h2>On-court performance</h2>

In 2015, Nagal began to gain fame when he won the 2015 Wimbledon boys' doubles title with his Vietnamese partner Lý Hoàng Nam, defeating Reilly Opelka and Akira Santillan in the final. He became the sixth Indian player to win a junior Grand Slam title.

His performances did not go unnoticed and he was called up to the Indian squad for the Davis Cup. Nagal made his Davis Cup debut for India in the 2016 World Group Playoff tie against Spain in New Delhi.

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However, Nagal’s biggest and breakthrough year came in 2019 when he made his Grand Slam debut at the US Open. His first match came against then-record Grand Slam champion Roger Federer who had recently finished as runner-up at Wimbledon.&nbsp;However, he faced defeat at the hands of the Swiss great.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the US Open 2020, Nagal registered his first Grand Slam singles win against Bradley Klahn. In doing so, he also became the first Indian to win a singles match at the Grand Slam since Somdev Devvarman’s win in the 2013 US Open.

Nagal later represented India at the Tokyo Olympics where he lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev. He also reached the second round of the 2024 Australian Open before winning at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Open.

India’s Sumit Nagal scripted history on Monday (April 8) after he became the first Indian tennis star to win an ATP Masters 1000 match at the Monte Carlo Open. Nagal, one of India’s top performers on the ATP circuit, has been making headlines in recent times and added another feather to his impressive hat when he got the better of 38th-ranked Matteo Arnaldi on Monday.

India’s Sumit Nagal scripted history on Monday (April 8) after he became the first Indian tennis star to win an ATP Masters 1000 match at the Monte Carlo Open. Nagal, one of India’s top performers on the ATP circuit, has been making headlines in recent times and added another feather to his impressive hat when he got the better of 38th-ranked Matteo Arnaldi on Monday. In doing so he also became the first Indian since 1990 to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay. Here we take a look at who is Sumit Nagal and his rise in the ATP circuit. 🇮🇳 CINEMA 🇮🇳 Doubles world No.1 @rohanbopanna watching on as @nagalsumit becomes the first Indian to win a singles main draw match in Monte Carlo!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/vJpYIFCcME — Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 8, 2024 × Early life of Sumit Nagal Born in Jhajjar district of India’s Haryana state, Nagal started getting his tennis lessons at the age of eight. However, it was not until 10 that he started taking professional tennis lessons and moved to Bengaluru to train at Mahesh Bhupathi's training academy. He was handpicked by Bhupathi as part of a future initiative programme aimed at developing young tennis stars. However, the programme was soon closed which forced Nagal to move outside India for future lessons. Nagal moved to Toronto to train with Coach Bobby Mahal. On-court performance In 2015, Nagal began to gain fame when he won the 2015 Wimbledon boys' doubles title with his Vietnamese partner Lý Hoàng Nam, defeating Reilly Opelka and Akira Santillan in the final. He became the sixth Indian player to win a junior Grand Slam title. His performances did not go unnoticed and he was called up to the Indian squad for the Davis Cup. Nagal made his Davis Cup debut for India in the 2016 World Group Playoff tie against Spain in New Delhi. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: Mayank Yadav has soreness in lower abdominal region, to be back soon, confirms LSG’s CEO However, Nagal’s biggest and breakthrough year came in 2019 when he made his Grand Slam debut at the US Open. His first match came against then-record Grand Slam champion Roger Federer who had recently finished as runner-up at Wimbledon. However, he faced defeat at the hands of the Swiss great. At the US Open 2020, Nagal registered his first Grand Slam singles win against Bradley Klahn. In doing so, he also became the first Indian to win a singles match at the Grand Slam since Somdev Devvarman’s win in the 2013 US Open. Nagal later represented India at the Tokyo Olympics where he lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev. He also reached the second round of the 2024 Australian Open before winning at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Open.

Sumit Nagal: All you need to know about India's first tennis star to win an ATP Masters match at Monte Carlo

Former world number one Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters, commencing on April 7, citing that his body is not up to it at the moment. The&nbsp;ATP Masters 1000 event is&nbsp;the first one on clay this season, with the focus&nbsp;later firmly on the French Open 2024, i.e. the second Grand Slam event of the year. Nadal's participation at the Roland Garros is also&nbsp;under serious threat as the tournament is now less than two months away.

In a post shared on Instagram, Nadal wrote, "These are very difficult moments for me, sporting-wise. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that I am not going to be playing in Monte Carlo. My body simply won't allow me. And even if I am working hard and making the maximum effort every day with all the will to play and compete again at tournaments that have been very important for me, the truth is that I can't play today. You have no idea how hard this is for me to not be able to play these events."

The 37-year-old added, "The only thing I can do is to accept the situation and try to look at the immediate future keeping the excitement and will to play in order to give me a chance for things to get better."

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5WGyngNg3U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal)</a>
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Nadal has won the Monte Carlo competition as many as 11 times. A 14-time French Open champion, the Spaniard will be desperate to mark his comeback at the Roland Garros but his participation looks dicey.

It is to be noted that&nbsp;Nadal has not competed in an ATP Tour tournament since his comeback to the court&nbsp;in Brisbane in January. He returned earlier this year but his performances remained under par. Despite taking an 11-month sabbatical last year,&nbsp;Nadal's return has not gone as planned with him missing the Australian Open, Indian Wells and&nbsp;Qatar Open. Even in 2023, he bowed out of three of the four Grand Slam events.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner will be hopeful of turning it around by regaining full fitness and competing hard at the Roland Garros in May. A good performance will boost his confidence and also help him compete at the Paris Olympics, later this year.&nbsp;

The Spanish player&nbsp;has dropped to 649 in the current ATP rankings for missing a&nbsp;plethora of tournaments. Thus, Nadal's comeback remains keenly awaited by his ardent fans.

Former world number one Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters, commencing on April 7, citing that his body is not up to it at the moment.

Former world number one Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters, commencing on April 7, citing that his body is not up to it at the moment. The ATP Masters 1000 event is the first one on clay this season, with the focus later firmly on the French Open 2024, i.e. the second Grand Slam event of the year. Nadal's participation at the Roland Garros is also under serious threat as the tournament is now less than two months away. In a post shared on Instagram, Nadal wrote, "These are very difficult moments for me, sporting-wise. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that I am not going to be playing in Monte Carlo. My body simply won't allow me. And even if I am working hard and making the maximum effort every day with all the will to play and compete again at tournaments that have been very important for me, the truth is that I can't play today. You have no idea how hard this is for me to not be able to play these events." The 37-year-old added, "The only thing I can do is to accept the situation and try to look at the immediate future keeping the excitement and will to play in order to give me a chance for things to get better." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) × Also read: Tennis: WTA finals to be held in Saudi Arabia starting 2024 in landmark move Nadal has won the Monte Carlo competition as many as 11 times. A 14-time French Open champion, the Spaniard will be desperate to mark his comeback at the Roland Garros but his participation looks dicey. It is to be noted that Nadal has not competed in an ATP Tour tournament since his comeback to the court in Brisbane in January. He returned earlier this year but his performances remained under par. Despite taking an 11-month sabbatical last year, Nadal's return has not gone as planned with him missing the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Qatar Open. Even in 2023, he bowed out of three of the four Grand Slam events. The 22-time Grand Slam winner will be hopeful of turning it around by regaining full fitness and competing hard at the Roland Garros in May. A good performance will boost his confidence and also help him compete at the Paris Olympics, later this year. The Spanish player has dropped to 649 in the current ATP rankings for missing a plethora of tournaments. Thus, Nadal's comeback remains keenly awaited by his ardent fans.

Rafael Nadal withdraws from Monte Carlo Masters, French Open participation in doubt

Andy Murray will miss the Monte Carlo Masters and Munich Open next month as he recovers from a severe ankle injury sustained during his exit from the Miami Open, the Briton's team announced on Friday.

The 36-year-old rolled his ankle in the deciding set of his 5-7 7-5 7-6(5) defeat by Czech Tomas Machac in southern Florida last Sunday and had said that he would be out for an "extended period" on the sidelines with ruptured ligaments.

"Following consultation with his team and medical experts, Andy Murray has taken the decision to miss the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters and BMW Open Munich," a statement from his team read.

"At this stage, it is still not clear how long Andy will be out of action, and he is continuing to review options with his medical team.

"Obviously this is disappointing news for Andy and he has reiterated his desire to get back on court as soon as possible."

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Former world number one and three-times Grand Slam champion Murray, who returned after hip resurfacing surgery in 2019, had previously said he did not plan to "play much past this summer" but hoped to compete at another Olympics.

He had also said he hoped to play at the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on May 26.

Wimbledon, where Murray has twice been champion, will begin on July 1 and the Paris Games get underway later that month.

The Monte Carlo Masters will be held April 7-14, and the Munich Open April 15-21.

Andy Murray will miss the Monte Carlo Masters and Munich Open next month as he recovers from a severe ankle injury sustained during his exit from the Miami Open, the Briton's team announced on Friday.

Andy Murray will miss the Monte Carlo Masters and Munich Open next month as he recovers from a severe ankle injury sustained during his exit from the Miami Open, the Briton's team announced on Friday. The 36-year-old rolled his ankle in the deciding set of his 5-7 7-5 7-6(5) defeat by Czech Tomas Machac in southern Florida last Sunday and had said that he would be out for an "extended period" on the sidelines with ruptured ligaments. "Following consultation with his team and medical experts, Andy Murray has taken the decision to miss the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters and BMW Open Munich," a statement from his team read. "At this stage, it is still not clear how long Andy will be out of action, and he is continuing to review options with his medical team. "Obviously this is disappointing news for Andy and he has reiterated his desire to get back on court as soon as possible." ALSO READ | IPL 2024: ‘I am interested to see how Virat tackles Starc’, says Steve Smith on blockbuster RCB v KKR clash Former world number one and three-times Grand Slam champion Murray, who returned after hip resurfacing surgery in 2019, had previously said he did not plan to "play much past this summer" but hoped to compete at another Olympics. He had also said he hoped to play at the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on May 26. Wimbledon, where Murray has twice been champion, will begin on July 1 and the Paris Games get underway later that month. The Monte Carlo Masters will be held April 7-14, and the Munich Open April 15-21.

Tennis: Andy Murray pulls out of Monte Carlo, Munich due to ankle injury

Russia's Andrey&nbsp;Rublev&nbsp;dug deep to hold off Danish teenager Holger Rune and lift his first Masters 1000 trophy in Monte Carlo on Sunday.

The fifth seed rallied from 4-1 down in the deciding set to defeat sixth-seeded teenager Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 after one hour 34 minutes on the red clay of Court Rainier III.

Rublev, 25, claimed the biggest win of his career after losing Masters finals in Monte Carlo and Cincinnati, both in 2021.

"I don't know what to say. Trailing 1-4, 0/30, then saving break points, thinking there is no chance to win. But somehow I did it," said the world number six, who blasted down 33 winners on the way to his 13th career title.

"I was hoping deep inside that I would have one chance," he continued.

"Play until the end. I remember the previous finals and when I was losing I thought I'd have no chance and mentally I was going down.&nbsp;

"But today I thought, 'Just believe until the end', and this is what I was trying to do in the third set, hoping I would have an extra chance to come back and what a way to do it."

Deprived of his national flag after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the player from Moscow thanked the crowd for their support.&nbsp;

"Coming from the country where I come from, to receive such international support, it is enormous," he said.

<h2>Big hitters</h2>

Rune was aiming for his second Masters 1000 title after defeating five Top 10 players en route to the title in Paris last year.&nbsp;

But the 19-year-old conceded he did not have enough time to recover from his thrilling three-set win over Italy's Jannik Sinner on Saturday.

"I didn't have any more in me," he said.&nbsp;

"I was definitely in control in the third set and also I would say mostly in the first set as well but didn't manage to close it out.

"Disappointing, but the most important tournament of the clay season is the French Open, so if I can prepare myself as best as possible for that one, that's what matters."

The two players had previously played each other twice -- the Dane won last year at the Masters 1000 in Paris in the quarter-finals before defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.&nbsp;

In January, it was&nbsp;Rublev&nbsp;who won their Australian Open clash after saving match points in the last 16.

On Sunday, the match between these two fiery big hitters failed to live up to expectations compared to the Australian showdown.&nbsp;

The Dane saved seven of the eight break points he faced in the first set, before benefiting from a big unforced error by&nbsp;Rublev&nbsp;on the last game's break point.&nbsp;

The Russian immediately took the lead in the second set to lead 2-0, but Rune came back to 2-2.&nbsp;

In the process,&nbsp;Rublev&nbsp;chained four games to equalise at one set all. Rune seemed to be on a roll to victory in the third set racing to 3-0 and had a double break point to lead 5-1.&nbsp;

But it was the Russian who lined up three games in a row and then managed the break, taking advantage of the nervousness of his opponent, who notably missed two smashes in a row to lead 6-5 and serve for the match.&nbsp;

He gave himself three consecutive match points and concluded with an ace on the second.

Rafael Nadal, an 11-time winner in Monte Carlo, and Carlos Alcaraz missed this key French Open warm-up with injury while top seed Djokovic was knocked out in the last 16.

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Russia's Andrey Rublev dug deep to hold off Danish teenager Holger Rune and lift his first Masters 1000 trophy in Monte Carlo on Sunday. The fifth seed rallied from 4-1 down in the deciding set to defeat sixth-seeded teenager Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 after one hour 34 minutes on the red clay of Court Rainier III.

Russia's Andrey Rublev dug deep to hold off Danish teenager Holger Rune and lift his first Masters 1000 trophy in Monte Carlo on Sunday. The fifth seed rallied from 4-1 down in the deciding set to defeat sixth-seeded teenager Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 after one hour 34 minutes on the red clay of Court Rainier III. Rublev, 25, claimed the biggest win of his career after losing Masters finals in Monte Carlo and Cincinnati, both in 2021. "I don't know what to say. Trailing 1-4, 0/30, then saving break points, thinking there is no chance to win. But somehow I did it," said the world number six, who blasted down 33 winners on the way to his 13th career title. "I was hoping deep inside that I would have one chance," he continued. "Play until the end. I remember the previous finals and when I was losing I thought I'd have no chance and mentally I was going down. "But today I thought, 'Just believe until the end', and this is what I was trying to do in the third set, hoping I would have an extra chance to come back and what a way to do it." Deprived of his national flag after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the player from Moscow thanked the crowd for their support. "Coming from the country where I come from, to receive such international support, it is enormous," he said. Big hitters Rune was aiming for his second Masters 1000 title after defeating five Top 10 players en route to the title in Paris last year. But the 19-year-old conceded he did not have enough time to recover from his thrilling three-set win over Italy's Jannik Sinner on Saturday. "I didn't have any more in me," he said. "I was definitely in control in the third set and also I would say mostly in the first set as well but didn't manage to close it out. "Disappointing, but the most important tournament of the clay season is the French Open, so if I can prepare myself as best as possible for that one, that's what matters." The two players had previously played each other twice -- the Dane won last year at the Masters 1000 in Paris in the quarter-finals before defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. In January, it was Rublev who won their Australian Open clash after saving match points in the last 16. On Sunday, the match between these two fiery big hitters failed to live up to expectations compared to the Australian showdown. The Dane saved seven of the eight break points he faced in the first set, before benefiting from a big unforced error by Rublev on the last game's break point. The Russian immediately took the lead in the second set to lead 2-0, but Rune came back to 2-2. In the process, Rublev chained four games to equalise at one set all. Rune seemed to be on a roll to victory in the third set racing to 3-0 and had a double break point to lead 5-1. But it was the Russian who lined up three games in a row and then managed the break, taking advantage of the nervousness of his opponent, who notably missed two smashes in a row to lead 6-5 and serve for the match. He gave himself three consecutive match points and concluded with an ace on the second. Rafael Nadal, an 11-time winner in Monte Carlo, and Carlos Alcaraz missed this key French Open warm-up with injury while top seed Djokovic was knocked out in the last 16. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Monte Carlo Masters: Rublev downs Holger Rune for biggest career win

Taylor Fritz earned a win on Friday at the Monte-Carlo Masters as he overcame defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals. Tsitsipas entered the match on a 12-match winning streak in Monte-Carlo, having won the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2021 and 2022. He was unable to find his best level, however, against Fritz, who forced the Greek into 18 unforced errors with his weight and depth of shot in order to advance after 70 minutes.

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The American will next meet Andrey Rublev after the fifth seed defeated German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff. Fritz hit 17 winners and was dominant on his second serve, winning 70% (14/20) of points with his second delivery to advance to his third ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

"I thought my level today was very high. I think I played a very good match. Beating him here gives me a lot of confidence. It has given me the reassurance I need to know I can play well on clay. I seemed to play well on the big points. I took my chances. I knew that if I played too safe he would be able to get around and dictate on the forehand. So even in the pressure moments, I pulled the trigger," ATP.com quoted Fritz as saying.

Elsewhere at Court 9, Holger Rune continues to build an impressive record as he defeated the in-form Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 on Friday at the Monte-Carlo Masters to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

Rune broke Medvedev again for 2-1 in the second set after clinching the only break of the first set in the fourth game, as his aggressive hitting kept the third seed under constant pressure. Despite Medvedev immediately reclaiming the break to give himself a chance to win his 27th tour-level match, Rune's sharp returning engineered another, and this time decisive, break in the ninth game.

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"It wasn't easy for sure, it's always tough to play Daniil. It was actually my first time playing against him in a real match, but we've practised tonnes of times. I have huge respect for everything he's done. The last week it was not easy to stop him but I'm happy I managed to do it," said Rune, who has risen two spots to No. 7 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings as a result of his Monte-Carlo run.

"It's just really staying in the moment. His serve is huge, he can hit every target, it's very effortless I would say. He can just toss the ball and goes full. When it's in and on the line, there's nothing to do, you just have to accept it and try to see every chance you can get and take it," Rune said.

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Taylor Fritz earned a win on Friday at the Monte-Carlo Masters as he overcame defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals. Tsitsipas entered the match on a 12-match winning streak in Monte-Carlo, having won the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2021 and 2022.

Taylor Fritz earned a win on Friday at the Monte-Carlo Masters as he overcame defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals. Tsitsipas entered the match on a 12-match winning streak in Monte-Carlo, having won the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2021 and 2022. He was unable to find his best level, however, against Fritz, who forced the Greek into 18 unforced errors with his weight and depth of shot in order to advance after 70 minutes. And then there were 4… Who will take home the Monte-Carlo 🏆?@ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/UZPoLgiDVU — ATP Tour (@atptour) April 14, 2023 × The American will next meet Andrey Rublev after the fifth seed defeated German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff. Fritz hit 17 winners and was dominant on his second serve, winning 70% (14/20) of points with his second delivery to advance to his third ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. "I thought my level today was very high. I think I played a very good match. Beating him here gives me a lot of confidence. It has given me the reassurance I need to know I can play well on clay. I seemed to play well on the big points. I took my chances. I knew that if I played too safe he would be able to get around and dictate on the forehand. So even in the pressure moments, I pulled the trigger," ATP.com quoted Fritz as saying. Elsewhere at Court 9, Holger Rune continues to build an impressive record as he defeated the in-form Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 on Friday at the Monte-Carlo Masters to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. Rune broke Medvedev again for 2-1 in the second set after clinching the only break of the first set in the fourth game, as his aggressive hitting kept the third seed under constant pressure. Despite Medvedev immediately reclaiming the break to give himself a chance to win his 27th tour-level match, Rune's sharp returning engineered another, and this time decisive, break in the ninth game. ALSO READ | Media rights deal for Indian cricket for 2023-2027 cycle could be completed by July, hints Jay Shah "It wasn't easy for sure, it's always tough to play Daniil. It was actually my first time playing against him in a real match, but we've practised tonnes of times. I have huge respect for everything he's done. The last week it was not easy to stop him but I'm happy I managed to do it," said Rune, who has risen two spots to No. 7 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings as a result of his Monte-Carlo run. "It's just really staying in the moment. His serve is huge, he can hit every target, it's very effortless I would say. He can just toss the ball and goes full. When it's in and on the line, there's nothing to do, you just have to accept it and try to see every chance you can get and take it," Rune said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Monte Carlo Masters: Taylor Fritz outclasses defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach into last four

Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters and his participation in the French Open is also in doubt. The Spanish world number 14 has won the tournament in Monaco 11 times but is not fit to return to action. His injury isn't getting any better and he hasn't played since the Australian Open in January. This creates fresh doubts over whether Nadal will be able to defend his title at Roland Garros this year and also raises question marks about his career. Nadal will be 37 in June and is unlikely to target playing many tournaments other than grand slams.

Will Nadal retire after the French open? | WION Sports Xtra

Flamboyant Italian Fabio Fognini followed up his shock victory over Rafael Nadal with a 6-3, 6-4 final win over Serbian Dusan Lajovic to claim his maiden Masters title in Monte Carlo on Sunday.

The 31-year-old triumphed despite suffering from an apparent muscle problem to became the lowest seeded player, at 13, to claim the title since Gustavo Kuerten in 1999.

Five weeks before the French Open kicks off at Roland Garros, Fognini produced some brilliant tennis on Monte Carlo's red clay to snatch his ninth ATP singles title.

"I was preparing for the match as best I can because he has my ex-coach (Jose Perlas) and I knew it was going to be really tough, a lot of running," said Fognini. "It's an incredible achievement. I’m really, really happy."

Lajovic, who had not lost a set this week before Sunday, did not have the weapons to counter Fognini's tactical nous.

"It was my first time in a final, so a great experience for me," the Serbian said.

"Today was not easy to play, with a lot of wind. But Fabio is a guy who knows how to play in these conditions. He has great hands.

"He's moving really well. So I was feeling on the court that I had to work much harder than him to win the points. I think this was the key."

Fognini made several unforced errors early on, allowing Lajovic to break in the third game. But the Serbian failed to capitalise as he dropped serve in the next game.

Fognini won three games in a row and held off Lajovic to seal the opening set with a stunning backhand winner down the line.

It was the first set Lajovic conceded in the tournament and the Serbian appeared quite shocked, dropping serve in the first game of the second set.

After a brief fightback Lajovic, who was also looking to win his first Masters title, was overwhelmed again and Fognini again broke to move 3-2 up.

In the following game, the Italian had his right leg strapped by the trainer and Lajovic tried to make the rallies longer.

But Fognini cleverly ended some of them with dropshots as he held serve for 4-2.

He ended the contest on his second match point.

Flamboyant Italian Fabio Fognini followed up his shock victory over Rafael Nadal with a 6-3, 6-4 final win over Serbian Dusan Lajovic to claim his maiden Masters title in Monte Carlo on Sunday.

Flamboyant Italian Fabio Fognini followed up his shock victory over Rafael Nadal with a 6-3, 6-4 final win over Serbian Dusan Lajovic to claim his maiden Masters title in Monte Carlo on Sunday. The 31-year-old triumphed despite suffering from an apparent muscle problem to became the lowest seeded player, at 13, to claim the title since Gustavo Kuerten in 1999. Five weeks before the French Open kicks off at Roland Garros, Fognini produced some brilliant tennis on Monte Carlo's red clay to snatch his ninth ATP singles title. "I was preparing for the match as best I can because he has my ex-coach (Jose Perlas) and I knew it was going to be really tough, a lot of running," said Fognini. "It's an incredible achievement. I’m really, really happy." Lajovic, who had not lost a set this week before Sunday, did not have the weapons to counter Fognini's tactical nous. "It was my first time in a final, so a great experience for me," the Serbian said. "Today was not easy to play, with a lot of wind. But Fabio is a guy who knows how to play in these conditions. He has great hands. "He's moving really well. So I was feeling on the court that I had to work much harder than him to win the points. I think this was the key." Fognini made several unforced errors early on, allowing Lajovic to break in the third game. But the Serbian failed to capitalise as he dropped serve in the next game. Fognini won three games in a row and held off Lajovic to seal the opening set with a stunning backhand winner down the line. It was the first set Lajovic conceded in the tournament and the Serbian appeared quite shocked, dropping serve in the first game of the second set. After a brief fightback Lajovic, who was also looking to win his first Masters title, was overwhelmed again and Fognini again broke to move 3-2 up. In the following game, the Italian had his right leg strapped by the trainer and Lajovic tried to make the rallies longer. But Fognini cleverly ended some of them with dropshots as he held serve for 4-2. He ended the contest on his second match point.

Fabio Fognini lands maiden Masters title in Monte Carlo

Former world number one Rafael Nadal looked&nbsp;frustrated as his&nbsp;bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title ended.&nbsp;

He was unhappy in the aftermath of his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rafael-nadal-crashes-out-to-fognini-in-monte-carlo-semi-finals-212128">surprise defeat to Fabio Fognini</a> in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters.&nbsp;

He said that the loss as 'one of the worst matches' he'd played on clay in 14 years.&nbsp;

In the post-match presentation, Rafa said, "Was a bad feeling. Was a tough day and was a difficult opponent. I am coming from low moments in terms of injuries, and in terms of the mental side have been not easy to accept all the things that have been going on during the last times."

He added, "So just was this kind of day that everything was wrong. I probably played one of the worst matches on clay in 14 years."

Fognini won 6-4, 6-2 to bring to an end Nadal's 18-match winning run in Monte Carlo.

After losing the first set 6-4, Nadal then lost the first five games of the second set with Fognini easing through to the final against another surprise name, Dusan Lajovic of Serbia.

The last man to take a set off Nadal in Monte Carlo was Britain's Kyle Edmund in 2017.

"So when that happens, you have to lose. And today I deserve to lose because I played against a player that was better than me today," he concluded. &nbsp;

Former world number one Rafael Nadal looked frustrated as his bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title ended. He was unhappy in the aftermath of his surprise defeat to Fabio Fognini in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Former world number one Rafael Nadal looked frustrated as his bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title ended. He was unhappy in the aftermath of his surprise defeat to Fabio Fognini in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters. He said that the loss as 'one of the worst matches' he'd played on clay in 14 years. In the post-match presentation, Rafa said, "Was a bad feeling. Was a tough day and was a difficult opponent. I am coming from low moments in terms of injuries, and in terms of the mental side have been not easy to accept all the things that have been going on during the last times." He added, "So just was this kind of day that everything was wrong. I probably played one of the worst matches on clay in 14 years." Fognini won 6-4, 6-2 to bring to an end Nadal's 18-match winning run in Monte Carlo. After losing the first set 6-4, Nadal then lost the first five games of the second set with Fognini easing through to the final against another surprise name, Dusan Lajovic of Serbia. The last man to take a set off Nadal in Monte Carlo was Britain's Kyle Edmund in 2017. "So when that happens, you have to lose. And today I deserve to lose because I played against a player that was better than me today," he concluded.

'Played one of the worst matches on clay in 14 years': Rafael Nadal

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Rafael+Nadal">Rafael Nadal</a> crashed to Fabio Fognini in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals on Saturday, the Spanish clay court king swept aside 6-4, 6-2, to end his bid for a 12th title.

The shock result leaves Italian 13th seed Fognini facing unseeded Serb Dusan Lajovic in Sunday's unscripted final.

Fognini, who beat Nadal three times all on clay in 2015, stopped a 25-set win streak in the principality for the world number two.

The last man to take a set off Nadal in Monte Carlo was Britain's Kyle Edmund in 2017.

Fognini ended Nadal's Monte Carlo reign on the fifth match point.

Rafael Nadal crashed to Fabio Fognini in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals on Saturday, the Spanish clay court king swept aside 6-4, 6-2, to end his bid for a 12th title.

Rafael Nadal crashed to Fabio Fognini in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals on Saturday, the Spanish clay court king swept aside 6-4, 6-2, to end his bid for a 12th title. The shock result leaves Italian 13th seed Fognini facing unseeded Serb Dusan Lajovic in Sunday's unscripted final. Fognini, who beat Nadal three times all on clay in 2015, stopped a 25-set win streak in the principality for the world number two. The last man to take a set off Nadal in Monte Carlo was Britain's Kyle Edmund in 2017. Fognini ended Nadal's Monte Carlo reign on the fifth match point.

Rafael Nadal crashes out to Fognini in Monte Carlo semi-finals

World number one Novak Djokovic's French Open preparations were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday (April 19).

Djokovic, a two-time champion in Monte Carlo, roared back to level the contest after dropping the first set but that did not prevent the 23-year-old Medvedev from claiming the biggest victory of his career.

Medvedev had lost each of his previous three encounters against Djokovic but on this occasion broke his Serbian opponent's serve five times to move into the final four.

Medvedev will next face another Serb, Dusan Lajovic, who followed up his shock win over world number five Dominic Thiem with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego.

For Djokovic, it was another premature exit from an ATP Masters 1000 event after he crashed out in the early rounds at Indian Wells and Miami last month.

The 31-year-old has struggled for rhythm in his first clay court event of the season and will need step up his game to have a chance of completing a personal sweep at next month's French Open by lifting his fourth straight Grand Slam title.

World number one Novak Djokovic's French Open preparations were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday (April 19).

World number one Novak Djokovic's French Open preparations were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday (April 19). Djokovic, a two-time champion in Monte Carlo, roared back to level the contest after dropping the first set but that did not prevent the 23-year-old Medvedev from claiming the biggest victory of his career. Medvedev had lost each of his previous three encounters against Djokovic but on this occasion broke his Serbian opponent's serve five times to move into the final four. Medvedev will next face another Serb, Dusan Lajovic, who followed up his shock win over world number five Dominic Thiem with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego. For Djokovic, it was another premature exit from an ATP Masters 1000 event after he crashed out in the early rounds at Indian Wells and Miami last month. The 31-year-old has struggled for rhythm in his first clay court event of the season and will need step up his game to have a chance of completing a personal sweep at next month's French Open by lifting his fourth straight Grand Slam title.

Novak Djokovic falls to Daniil Medvedev in Monte Carlo quarters

World number one Novak Djokovic took out his frustration on the racket in a scrappy performance but did enough to overcome German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a 6-3 4-6 6-4 win in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.

The Serb, who received a first-round bye, clinched the first set with penetrating groundstrokes from the baseline but struggled with his serve in the second and serving at 2-3 down was forced to save two break points.

On the third break point opportunity for Kohlschreiber, Djokovic inexplicably hit a backhand volley wide to put his opponent 4-2 ahead.

A furious Djokovic went on to smash his racket three times on the court and was met with a chorus of boos from the spectators.

Two-times winner Djokovic would go on to drop his serve for the fourth time in the set but regained his composure with an early break in the decider.

He maintained the advantage to avenge his Indian Wells second-round defeat by Kohlschreiber last month.

"There were lots of ups and downs. It was not the prettiest of matches," Djokovic, who record his 850th tour-level win, said.

"He played well, but a win is a win. This was a tough first match of the clay season.

"I had to figure out how I needed to move, this kind of match can be expected. It was probably good for me to spend so long on the court."

Argentine Guido Pella knocked out seventh seed Marin Cilic, beating the Croatian 6-3 5-7 6-1.

The defeat left 2014 U.S. Open winner Cilic with just one victory from five matches since January's Australian Open, where he was knocked out in the fourth round.

World number one Novak Djokovic took out his frustration on the racket in a scrappy performance but did enough to overcome German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a 6-3 4-6 6-4 win in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.

World number one Novak Djokovic took out his frustration on the racket in a scrappy performance but did enough to overcome German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a 6-3 4-6 6-4 win in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday. The Serb, who received a first-round bye, clinched the first set with penetrating groundstrokes from the baseline but struggled with his serve in the second and serving at 2-3 down was forced to save two break points. On the third break point opportunity for Kohlschreiber, Djokovic inexplicably hit a backhand volley wide to put his opponent 4-2 ahead. A furious Djokovic went on to smash his racket three times on the court and was met with a chorus of boos from the spectators. Two-times winner Djokovic would go on to drop his serve for the fourth time in the set but regained his composure with an early break in the decider. He maintained the advantage to avenge his Indian Wells second-round defeat by Kohlschreiber last month. "There were lots of ups and downs. It was not the prettiest of matches," Djokovic, who record his 850th tour-level win, said. "He played well, but a win is a win. This was a tough first match of the clay season. "I had to figure out how I needed to move, this kind of match can be expected. It was probably good for me to spend so long on the court." Argentine Guido Pella knocked out seventh seed Marin Cilic, beating the Croatian 6-3 5-7 6-1. The defeat left 2014 U.S. Open winner Cilic with just one victory from five matches since January's Australian Open, where he was knocked out in the fourth round.

Novak Djokovic survives Kohlschreiber scare in Monte Carlo

Fifth seed Dominic Thiem came from behind to knock out Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters third round on Thursday and set up a quarter-final clash with defending champion Rafa Nadal.

Thiem, twice French Open semi-finalist, bounced back after losing the opening set in a tiebreak to win 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3.

Djokovic has not reached the last eight of a tournament since last year's Wimbledon and has struggled with a long-term elbow injury.

Thiem made the decisive breakthrough in the seventh game of the final set with a powerful backhand down the line and wrapped up the match with another break on his second match point.

Nadal, who needs to win the tournament to stay ahead of Roger Federer at the top of the world rankings, kept on course for his 11th Monte Carlo title with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over Russia's Karen Khachanov.

The Spaniard converted four break-point opportunities to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th year in a row.

Nadal lost twice to Thiem on clay last year but produced an emphatic display to beat the Austrian in straight sets en route to his 10th French Open title.

<img alt="novak.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/sports/novak.jpg" width="770" />

"It's way better feeling if you go against him (Nadal) and know that you've beaten him already on this surface," the 24-year-old Thiem said. "But it's the ultimate challenge for everybody to play against him."

Third seed Alexander Zverev overcame a mid-match blip to beat fellow German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 4-6 6-4, but was denied a quarter-final meeting with his older brother Mischa, who lost 6-2 7-5 to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

World number three Marin Cilic progressed without hitting a ball after his opponent Milos Raonic withdrew due to a knee injury.

The Australian Open runner-up next plays Japan's Kei Nishikori, who beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-0 2-6 6-3.

&nbsp

Fifth seed Dominic Thiem came from behind to knock out Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters third round on Thursday and set up a quarter-final clash with defending champion Rafa Nadal

Fifth seed Dominic Thiem came from behind to knock out Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters third round on Thursday and set up a quarter-final clash with defending champion Rafa Nadal. Thiem, twice French Open semi-finalist, bounced back after losing the opening set in a tiebreak to win 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3. Djokovic has not reached the last eight of a tournament since last year's Wimbledon and has struggled with a long-term elbow injury. Thiem made the decisive breakthrough in the seventh game of the final set with a powerful backhand down the line and wrapped up the match with another break on his second match point. Nadal, who needs to win the tournament to stay ahead of Roger Federer at the top of the world rankings, kept on course for his 11th Monte Carlo title with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over Russia's Karen Khachanov. The Spaniard converted four break-point opportunities to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th year in a row. Nadal lost twice to Thiem on clay last year but produced an emphatic display to beat the Austrian in straight sets en route to his 10th French Open title. "It's way better feeling if you go against him (Nadal) and know that you've beaten him already on this surface," the 24-year-old Thiem said. "But it's the ultimate challenge for everybody to play against him." Third seed Alexander Zverev overcame a mid-match blip to beat fellow German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 4-6 6-4, but was denied a quarter-final meeting with his older brother Mischa, who lost 6-2 7-5 to Frenchman Richard Gasquet. World number three Marin Cilic progressed without hitting a ball after his opponent Milos Raonic withdrew due to a knee injury. The Australian Open runner-up next plays Japan's Kei Nishikori, who beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-0 2-6 6-3.

Dominic Thiem upsets Djokovic in Monte Carlo to set up Nadal clash

Rafael Nadal`s build-up to what he hopes will be another French Open triumph begins in earnest this week when the Spaniard returns to one of his favourite old haunts, Monte Carlo.

The Mallorcan world number one has been off the Tour since injuring himself at the Australian Open but looks to have recovered just in time for the European claycourt swing he has dominated throughout his career.

Nowhere more so than Monte Carlo where last year he became the first player to win the same ATP tournament 10 times.

Twelve months ago he went on to win a 10th Barcelona title and then completed La Decima at Roland Garros.

The 31-year-old world number one begins his claycourt title-hunting season with few matches in the legs this year though, having taken an extended rest after suffering a hip injury in Melbourne against Croatia`s Marin Cilic who will be seeded two at the Monte Carlo Country Club overlooking the ocean.

Any doubts about Nadal`s physical condition were cast aside, however, when he won both his matches for Spain in last weekend`s Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany.

His display against world number four Alexander Zverev was particularly impressive, winning 6-1 6-4 6-4.

"I feel that I`m playing well. I had some good days of practice here, playing some good sets," Nadal said.

"That helps me. I love this event. I always feel comfortable here. I`m enjoying being here in Monte Carlo in an event that always brings me to the best feelings possible.

"It`s hopefully going to be my first event of the year that I can finish. And I`m excited about that."

Nadal will be chiefly concerned with arriving in Paris in tip-top shape but also in the back of his mind is the fact that his number one ranking is hanging by a thread.

Unless Nadal wins an 11th Monte Carlo title Roger Federer, who is skipping the claycourt season as he did last year, will return to the top spot without hitting a ball.

Federer is not the only big name missing from the Monte Carlo draw, with Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka also absent as they recover from injuries.

Serbian former world number one Novak Djokovic will be in action at his home club though -- desperately searching for some spark after tumbling down to 13th in the rankings.

Seeded nine, Djokovic, who is struggling to pick up the pace after an elbow injury, could face Nadal in the semi-finals although just getting a win under his belt would be a relief for the 30-year-old who triumphed in Monte Carlo in 2013 and 2015.

"I wanted to share something simple I always try to remember: no matter how good you are at something, there is always more to learn, more to improve, more to explore... so keep your head in the game. I know I gotta keep mine," Djokovic said on Twitter this week.

Djokovic is back working with old coach Marian Vajda after parting ways with Andre Agassi and Radek Stepanek.

The Mallorcan world number one has been off the Tour since injuring himself

Rafael Nadal`s build-up to what he hopes will be another French Open triumph begins in earnest this week when the Spaniard returns to one of his favourite old haunts, Monte Carlo. The Mallorcan world number one has been off the Tour since injuring himself at the Australian Open but looks to have recovered just in time for the European claycourt swing he has dominated throughout his career. Nowhere more so than Monte Carlo where last year he became the first player to win the same ATP tournament 10 times. Twelve months ago he went on to win a 10th Barcelona title and then completed La Decima at Roland Garros. The 31-year-old world number one begins his claycourt title-hunting season with few matches in the legs this year though, having taken an extended rest after suffering a hip injury in Melbourne against Croatia`s Marin Cilic who will be seeded two at the Monte Carlo Country Club overlooking the ocean. Any doubts about Nadal`s physical condition were cast aside, however, when he won both his matches for Spain in last weekend`s Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany. His display against world number four Alexander Zverev was particularly impressive, winning 6-1 6-4 6-4. "I feel that I`m playing well. I had some good days of practice here, playing some good sets," Nadal said. "That helps me. I love this event. I always feel comfortable here. I`m enjoying being here in Monte Carlo in an event that always brings me to the best feelings possible. "It`s hopefully going to be my first event of the year that I can finish. And I`m excited about that." Nadal will be chiefly concerned with arriving in Paris in tip-top shape but also in the back of his mind is the fact that his number one ranking is hanging by a thread. Unless Nadal wins an 11th Monte Carlo title Roger Federer, who is skipping the claycourt season as he did last year, will return to the top spot without hitting a ball. Federer is not the only big name missing from the Monte Carlo draw, with Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka also absent as they recover from injuries. Serbian former world number one Novak Djokovic will be in action at his home club though -- desperately searching for some spark after tumbling down to 13th in the rankings. Seeded nine, Djokovic, who is struggling to pick up the pace after an elbow injury, could face Nadal in the semi-finals although just getting a win under his belt would be a relief for the 30-year-old who triumphed in Monte Carlo in 2013 and 2015. "I wanted to share something simple I always try to remember: no matter how good you are at something, there is always more to learn, more to improve, more to explore... so keep your head in the game. I know I gotta keep mine," Djokovic said on Twitter this week. Djokovic is back working with old coach Marian Vajda after parting ways with Andre Agassi and Radek Stepanek.

Rafael Nadal returns to old claycourt hunting ground

Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record-breaking 10th time with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Spanish compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Sunday.

The 30-year-old Nadal, who now has 50 clay court titles and 70 in all, will be aiming for a 10th French Open title as well next month.

It was Nadal&#39;s first title in almost a year and further cemented his place in history as he became the first man in the Open era to win the same event 10 times.

He won eight Monte Carlo titles in a row from 2005 to 2012 but then lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final.

He won the title again last year and then added the Barcelona crown a week later, yet had not lifted a trophy since, losing three finals already this year, including January&#39;s Australian Open against Roger Federer.

Nadal&#39;s 50 clay titles breaks the record he shared with Guillermo Vilas since April last year when he lifted his ninth trophy in Barcelona.

&quot;I cannot explain the feelings that I have,&quot; Nadal said.&nbsp;

&quot;I had a tough start to the season. When I first played here in 2003 as a qualifier I reached the third round.

&quot;Now, a lot of years later, this is something I could have never dreamt. Thanks to life for giving me this opportunity.&quot;

The great Spaniard needed just 76 minutes and three match points to see off his compatriot on Sunday.

The left-hander now has 29 Masters titles, one behind the all-time record of 30 held by Novak Djokovic.

He has now won an ATP event for the 14th consecutive year after losing his first three finals of 2017.

Nadal was hardly challenged by his 29-year-old countryman, who was playing the best tennis of his career after seeing off world number one Andy Murray on his way to the final.&nbsp;

Nadal took victory as Ramos-Vinolas double-faulted.

&quot;What can you say about Nadal,&quot; said the losing finalist.&nbsp;

&quot;I never expected anything like this week to happen to me (wins over Andy Murray and Marin Cilic).&nbsp;

&quot;Rafa winning here 10 times is unbelievable, he&#39;s the best for sure on clay. For me, I still had a fantastic finish to the week.&quot;

Nadal will now move on to his home event in Barcelona next week where he will be eyeing another magical 10th title.

Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas played the fourth all-Spanish championship in the Open Era in Monte Carlo, with Nadal winning the 2010 edition against Fernando Verdasco and beating David Ferrer a year later.

Nadal now stand 3-0 versus Ramos-Vinolas and has never lost to a countryman in an ATP final, now standing 15-0 in that category.

(AFP)

The 30-year-old Nadal, who now has 50 clay court titles and 70 in all, will be aiming for a 10th French Open title as well next month

Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record-breaking 10th time with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Spanish compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Sunday. The 30-year-old Nadal, who now has 50 clay court titles and 70 in all, will be aiming for a 10th French Open title as well next month. It was Nadal's first title in almost a year and further cemented his place in history as he became the first man in the Open era to win the same event 10 times. He won eight Monte Carlo titles in a row from 2005 to 2012 but then lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final. He won the title again last year and then added the Barcelona crown a week later, yet had not lifted a trophy since, losing three finals already this year, including January's Australian Open against Roger Federer. Nadal's 50 clay titles breaks the record he shared with Guillermo Vilas since April last year when he lifted his ninth trophy in Barcelona. "I cannot explain the feelings that I have," Nadal said. "I had a tough start to the season. When I first played here in 2003 as a qualifier I reached the third round. "Now, a lot of years later, this is something I could have never dreamt. Thanks to life for giving me this opportunity." The great Spaniard needed just 76 minutes and three match points to see off his compatriot on Sunday. The left-hander now has 29 Masters titles, one behind the all-time record of 30 held by Novak Djokovic. He has now won an ATP event for the 14th consecutive year after losing his first three finals of 2017. Nadal was hardly challenged by his 29-year-old countryman, who was playing the best tennis of his career after seeing off world number one Andy Murray on his way to the final. Nadal took victory as Ramos-Vinolas double-faulted. "What can you say about Nadal," said the losing finalist. "I never expected anything like this week to happen to me (wins over Andy Murray and Marin Cilic). "Rafa winning here 10 times is unbelievable, he's the best for sure on clay. For me, I still had a fantastic finish to the week." Nadal will now move on to his home event in Barcelona next week where he will be eyeing another magical 10th title. Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas played the fourth all-Spanish championship in the Open Era in Monte Carlo, with Nadal winning the 2010 edition against Fernando Verdasco and beating David Ferrer a year later. Nadal now stand 3-0 versus Ramos-Vinolas and has never lost to a countryman in an ATP final, now standing 15-0 in that category. (AFP)

Rafael Nadal beats Albert Ramos-Vinolas to win historic 10th Monte Carlo title

Novak Djokovic&#39;s preparations for his French Open title defence suffered another setback Friday when he was defeated by Belgium&#39;s David Goffin 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals.

The Serb saved four match points but slumped to his first loss to Goffin after five successive wins on a fifth match point, hindered by a time violation as he prepared to serve.

World number two Djokovic faced 17 break points and saved 13 in his frustrating marathon.

The 29-year-old Serb battled for two and three quarter hours against the 10th seeded Belgian, leaving Rafael Nadal to play under the floodlights against Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

Nadal is seeking a record tenth title at the Country Club and will be the favourite after Djokovic joined world number one Andy Murray and third seed Stan Wawrinka on the casualty list.

&quot;It&#39;s just unfortunate I missed my chances in the beginning of the third set to go a double break up,&quot; said Djokovic who had led 4-2 in the decider.

The Serb was angry over the playing conditions, made difficult by a sharp shaft of light shooting across the surface while most of the arena was in shade.&nbsp;

&quot;In the end, one side of the court was terrible, almost unplayable,&quot; he said.

&quot;I started slowly probably because I played two long matches. But I thought as the match progressed I was feeling okay.&nbsp;

&quot;I was physically fine, we had a lot of exchanges, a lot of rallies. David is playing very quick. You know, he&#39;s a fast player.

&quot;I thought I played very, very well for, you know, a set and a half, from the start of the second set. Then, there was that unfortunate game when I dropped my serve, the match turned around. I had my chances, I definitely did. I just didn&#39;t use them.&quot;

Murray&#39;s conqueror Albert Ramos-Vinolas scored his second upset in as many days, stunning fifth seeded Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

He will next face French 11th seed Lucas Pouille, who beat Uruguay&#39;s Pablo Cuevas 6-0, 3-6, 7-5.

Pouille will come into his first Masters 1000 semi-final with a precise game plan.

&quot;Ramos is hitting hard, but he doesn&#39;t play fast. He doesn&#39;t like to be under pressure,&quot; said the Frenchman.

&quot;What I did in the first set today, I will also have to do tomorrow to make it difficult for him. I must not let him dictate from the baseline. I have to be the one dictating the points.&quot;

Ramos is also ready.

&quot;I know Pouille, he&#39;s a young player coming very strong. It will be super difficult,&quot; he said.

(AFP)

Goffin awaits the winner between nine-time champion Rafel Nadal and Diego Schwartzman

Novak Djokovic's preparations for his French Open title defence suffered another setback Friday when he was defeated by Belgium's David Goffin 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals. The Serb saved four match points but slumped to his first loss to Goffin after five successive wins on a fifth match point, hindered by a time violation as he prepared to serve. World number two Djokovic faced 17 break points and saved 13 in his frustrating marathon. The 29-year-old Serb battled for two and three quarter hours against the 10th seeded Belgian, leaving Rafael Nadal to play under the floodlights against Argentine Diego Schwartzman. Nadal is seeking a record tenth title at the Country Club and will be the favourite after Djokovic joined world number one Andy Murray and third seed Stan Wawrinka on the casualty list. "It's just unfortunate I missed my chances in the beginning of the third set to go a double break up," said Djokovic who had led 4-2 in the decider. The Serb was angry over the playing conditions, made difficult by a sharp shaft of light shooting across the surface while most of the arena was in shade. "In the end, one side of the court was terrible, almost unplayable," he said. "I started slowly probably because I played two long matches. But I thought as the match progressed I was feeling okay. "I was physically fine, we had a lot of exchanges, a lot of rallies. David is playing very quick. You know, he's a fast player. "I thought I played very, very well for, you know, a set and a half, from the start of the second set. Then, there was that unfortunate game when I dropped my serve, the match turned around. I had my chances, I definitely did. I just didn't use them." Murray's conqueror Albert Ramos-Vinolas scored his second upset in as many days, stunning fifth seeded Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2. He will next face French 11th seed Lucas Pouille, who beat Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-0, 3-6, 7-5. Pouille will come into his first Masters 1000 semi-final with a precise game plan. "Ramos is hitting hard, but he doesn't play fast. He doesn't like to be under pressure," said the Frenchman. "What I did in the first set today, I will also have to do tomorrow to make it difficult for him. I must not let him dictate from the baseline. I have to be the one dictating the points." Ramos is also ready. "I know Pouille, he's a young player coming very strong. It will be super difficult," he said. (AFP)

Monte Carlo Masters: Djokovic dumped out by Goffin

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