Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed his second consecutive title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 1000 with a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on a sunny afternoon in the Country Club in 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Davidovich Fokina earned the first break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead with a forehand from the baseline. Tsitsipas fired a forehand up the line to break back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. The Greek player earned his second break in the eighth game when Davidovich Fokina fired a backhand into the tramlines. Tsitsipas held serve to love to seal the first set with an ace.
Tsitsipas started the second set with an immediate break to take a 1-0 lead, as Davidovich Fokina sent a baseline shot spinning long. Davidovich Fokina broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Tsitsipas converted his third break point in a marathon ninth game at deuce with a topspin forehand that Davidovich Fokina was unable to return, earning a chance to serve for the match.
Davidovich Fokina pulled the break back in the 10th game with a smash. Tsitsipas recovered from failing to serve out the match at 5-4.
Davidovich Fokina saved a championship point, but Tsitsipas converted his second opportunity with a passing shot.
Tsitsipas has become the sixth player to win back-to back titles in Monte-Carlo following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal (2005-2012, 2016-2018), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2002-2003), Thomas Muster (1995-1996), Bjorn Borg (1979-1980) and Ilie Nastase (1971-1973).
Earlier this week Tsitsipas beat 2019 Monte-Carlo champion Fabio Fognini and Alexander Zverev. He will move up to world number 2 in the ATP Race to Turin.
Tsitsipas has won four titles on clay in his career (Estoril 2019, Lyon 2021, Monte-Carlo 2021 and 2022).
Tsitsipas has extended his head-to-head lead to 3-0 in his three head-to-head matches against Davidovich Fokina.
Davidovich Fokina enjoyed a successful week in which he beat Novak Djokovic, David Goffin, Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov.
“I am very proud of myself. Things were not going well at one point, but I managed to stay composed to finish the match off. I am really proud with the belief I put in my game. Sometimes you doubt yourself, but it is always important to keep your head high. He fought in moments I did not expect him to fight. Alejandro can hit incredible winners out of nowhere and play unpredictably, but I was able to minimise that. I knew he would be dangerous opponent but that is a great win for me. I think we will see great results from him in the future”, said Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas won his second Masters 1000 title dropping just one set in the whole tournament against Diego Schwartzman in the quarter final, where he rallied from 0-4 down in the third set.
“It was a great way to top it off with lots of fighting in the end. It was not s much about going for clean winners or for too much beautiful tennis, but trying to put in the hard work in every single point and go over the limits, as I like to say”, said Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, the final in Rotterdam beforee winning the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in the first four month off the 2022 season.
“I am always trying to bring the best I can from clay and adjust accordingly to the other surfaces, I really want to be doing well on hard and grass this year, because I fell like I can really get a lot of points there. If I am able to win matches with the same consistency on this surface, I think I have a good chance of finishing the year in the top two, which is a huge goal of mine to be finally there and belong in that special group of players. My tennis is great everywhere. Clay is the best surface that I can adjust to the best. ”, said Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas spoke about his special relationship to the Monte-Carlo tournament during the award ceremony.
“This has been an incredible event. I had the chance to win it last year without a crowd. I don’t think I have never experienced a more special event in mt career so far. It holds a special place in my heart. This is the first event I ever attended as a six-year-old kid. Not in a million years would I have thought I would be in the position I am today. It is remarkable. I would like to thank my team for helping my team towards my dream, our dreams together”
