There will be at least one Spanish man in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 final on Sunday as Albert Ramos-Vinolas’ stunning week continued in Monaco. The World No.24 defeated France’s Lucas Pouille, the 11th seed, 6-3, 5-7,6-1 . It is Ramos-Vinolas’ first appearance in a final of this magnitude at the age of 29.
Ramos-Vinolas came into the match in the best form of his career, having defeated World No.1 and reigning Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and former US Open champion Marin Cilic. Pouille’s match wins this week included against Ryan Harrison, Paolo Lorenzi, and Stan Wawrinka’s conqueror Pablo Cuevas. Pouille was a beneficiary of a retirement win over
The players both traded early breaks before Ramos-Vinolas took full control of the first set, rattling off three straight games, including two breaks of the Pouille serve to ensure that he would serve first in the second set.
It was an advantage that certainly aided the veteran as Pouille forced three break point chances but failed to take any of them. With Ramos-Vinolas serving first, it ensured some nervy games for Pouille as the set neared its conclusion. Pouille struggled to land his first serve, a problem that had hindered the 23 year old since the first set. However, the Frenchman looked decidedly more composed in the second set and after ten games had not yet faced a break point.
Ramos-Vinolas was forced to save two more break points at 5-5, but was finally broken on the third chance with Pouille looking to serve the set out. That he did, to thirty and the scores were level after two sets.
Ramos-Vinolas responded brilliantly though, and powered through the third set, breaking twice as Pouille continued to struggle with serve. Ramos-Vinolas will move into the Top 20 of the Emirates ATP rankings if results go his way, and could be the only thing stopping Rafael Nadal clinching a tenth Monte Carlo title.
Ramos-Vinolas awaits the winner of nine time champion Rafael Nadal and David Goffin in the final.
