Andrey Rublev cruised past Salvatore Caruso 6-3 6-2 in 68 minutes to reach the third round at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters for the first time in his career.
Rublev has extended his win-loss record to 21-4 this year. He leads the ATP Tour for most match wins this season ahead of Stefanos Tsitsipas (18-5) and Danil Medvedev (17-3).
Rublev went up a break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Caruso saved two double break points in the sixth game to hold serve for 2-4. The Russian player held on his next two service games to claim the first set 6-3.
Caruso was not able to convert two break points in the second game of the second set. Rublev won five consecutive games with two breaks in the third and fifth games Caruso earned tow break points in the eighth games, but Rublev saved them before serving out the second set with a forehand on the match point at deuce.
“I am happy with my game for the first match of the clay season. I was a little bit tight because I did not practice a lot on clay and did not play matches before. Caruso was praying from the qualifiying round, so he had got already used to the clay and is dangerous. I am really happy that I could win in straight sets”, said Rublev.
Rublev will face either Roberto Bautista Agut or Tommy Paul for a spot in the quarter final.
Defending champion Fabio Fognini beat Jordan Thompson 6-3 6-3 in 1 hour and 22 minutes. Fognini went up a 4-0 lead with a double break. Thompson pulled one of the two breaks back to 30 in the eighth game to 3-5 down, but Fognini broke for the third time in the ninth game to win the first set 6-3. Fognini cruised through to a 6-3 win in the second set with a break at love in the fourth game.
Fognini will face either Filip Krajinovic or Juan Ignacio Londero in the third round. David Goffin eased past Marco Cecchinato 6-4 6-0. Goffin broke serve at 15 in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and saved two break-back points in the 10th game to close out the first set 6-4 at love. Goffin took a bagel win in the second set with three consecutive breaks.