Stefanos Tsitsipas registered his 100th Tour-level win on clay with a comprehensive victory over Casper Ruud in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.
The 25-year-old was in control throughout the majority of his 6-1, 6-4, triumph over the world No.10 at the Monte Carlo Country Club. Tsitsipas didn’t drop his serve throughout the clash (saving eight out of eight break points) as he hit 30 winners past an out-of-sorts Ruud who had beaten Novak Djokovic just 24 hours earlier. It is the first time he has won a title since last year’s Los Cabos Open and it is his 11th overall.
The triumph in Monte Carlo comes after what has been a mixed past couple of months on the Tour for Tsitsipas. Coming into the tournament, he had lost seven out of his last eight matches against top 20 players and fell out of the world’s top 10. However, he has turned his fortunes around at the Masters 1000 event with a duo of top-five wins over Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner before defeating Ruud. It is the third time he has won the tournament after 2021 and 2022.
“It’s been very difficult. To be back on the podium and winning tournaments feels amazing. I can’t thank enough my family, friends and if there is a god out there for making this moment possible,” said Tsitsipas.
“I am extremely generous to every single person behind this journey. The trilogy is more special than the first or second time. This is unbelievable for me. Capturing this win today was nerve-wracking. I really wanted the trilogy and I got it. I’m extremely happy today.”
12th-seeded Tsitsipas inflicted his first blow three games into the final with the use of a forehand winner to break for a 2-1 lead. The Greek almost lost his advantage twice in the following game but dug deep to keep ahead. Meanwhile, a lacklustre Ruud struggled for consistency throughout the opener as he hit back-to-back errors from his forehand side later in the set to hand his rival the double break. In cruise control, Tsitsipas clinched the 6-1 lead after just 36 minutes of play following a Ruud double fault.
At the start of the second frame, the world No.12 experienced some issues with his shotmaking and greater resistance from across the court but continued to weather the storm. Best illustrated at 3-3 when Tsitsipas survived a 13-minute service game by saving a trio of break points. Battling his way to a game away from glory, he earned his first match point after a backhand error from Ruud. He then sealed victory with a forehand winner down the line.
Moments after the match concluded, Tsitsipas wrote the phrase ‘fate favours fearless’ on the camera lens.
“I had a chat with one of my team members last night. I had to go out here and show that kind of tennis because I promised every single one (of his team) that I’m not going to give up and make the most out of it,” he said.
“I’m glad that I showed some unbelievable and ruthless tennis. From the beginning until the end my play was cohesive.”
As for runner-up Ruud, the Norwegian continues his quest for a title at a tournament above ATP 250 level. Despite coming up short, his win over Djokovic in the semi-finals was the first time he has beaten a current world No.1 in his career. Furthermore, he has won 24 matches already this season which is the second-highest on the ATP Tour after Jannik Sinner (25).
“I feel like we (Ruud and his team) are getting closer to a big title. I’m looking forward to having another chance in the future. Hopefully we can break that last barrier and win a big tournament like this,” Ruud commented during the trophy presentation.
Tsitsipas will now rise to seventh in the PIF ATP rankings on Monday. He has become the fifth player to win the Monte Carlo crown three or more times. Following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg, Thomas Muster and Illie Nastase.
