Tsitsipas Masters Monte-Carlo For Third Time

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Stefanos Tsitsipas (photo: ATP Tour video)

MONTE-CARLO/WASHINGTON, April 14, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Stefanos Tsitsipas is back. The 25-year old from Greece, who has always felt at home playing on the red clay of Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club – and in front of many fans waving blue and white Greek flags – defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud, 6-1, 6-4, in an hour and 36 minutes to win his third Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title Sunday afternoon.

A day after completing a three-set upset of World No. 2 Jannik Sinner of Italy, the 12th-seeded Tsitsipas played some of his best tennis against the No. 8 seed Ruud. He moved about the court freely and swung from both wings mightily. By the end of the title tussle, he won on his first match-point try. Tsitsipas hit a forehand winner – his 19th and 30th winner overall – that capped a beautifully-played 16 shot rally. He immediately fell to the red clay and soaked in the admiration of the capacity crowd that roared its appreciation.

“It has been very difficult, so to be back on the podiums, winning tournaments just feels amazing,” the World No. 12 Tsitsipas said in an on-court interview that preceded the trophy ceremony. “I can’t thank my family enough and friends, and if there is God out there, for making this moment possible. I am extremely grateful for every person behind this journey. The third time is even more special than the first or second time. This is an unbelievable win for me. Capturing that win today was nerve-wracking. I really wanted this trinity. I am extremely happy today.”

Tsitsipas finished the title match with 30 winners to 18 unforced errors, compared to 20 winners and 20 unforced errors for Ruud. He controlled the net by winning 19 of 27 chances, saved all eight break points he faced, and broke his opponent’s serve four times in eight opportunities. Tsitsipas outpointed Ruud 71-57.

“I had to go out there and show my tennis as I promised every single of of them [my team] I will make the most out of it,” Tsitsipas said. “I am glad I presented on court and showed some ruthless tennis. From the beginning to the end my play was cohesive and I was able to blend in a lot of different shots.”

With his 11th overall crown – and first since winning Los Cabos last year – and third Monte-Carlo title secured, Tsitsipas has become just the fifth player to win the prestigious clay-court title at least three times. He joins Rafael Nadal (11), Bjorn Borg (3), Ilie Nastase (3) and Thomas Muster (3).

At the outset of the year’s first ATP Masters 1000 on red clay, Tsitsipas began his week in the Principality with a 10-6 win-loss record. Now, after stringing together six straight wins – including three Top-10 wins over No. 5 Alexander Zverev, Sinner and Ruud – he is 16-6. It’s the first time since Toronto in 2018 that Tsitsipas has achieved three Top-10 victories at a single tournament. Come Monday, Tsitsipas will rise to No. 7 in the new PIF ATP Rankings.

Meanwhile, Ruud, who ousted top seed Novak Djokovic in Saturday’s  semifinal round, will move up from No. 10 to No. 6.

“I think I have taken a few steps this week, but today it just didn’t work out well,” Ruud said in his post-match news conference. “Obviously saying that I took a few steps, I think I played well on the clay and also yesterday beating Djokovic was a fantastic win for me and something that I hope I can kind of take confidence from. Maybe not today but maybe next time I play a big match or hopefully next time if I’m in a big final again I will think about maybe the fact that I have beaten Novak before can be something that can give me confidence.” 

Ruud added: “Today didn’t feel so close because I lost straight sets to Stef, but he also played very well. I told him on the court. I mean, he’s maybe had a few struggles the last six, seven months. I think we can be open and say that. He fell out of the top 10 a few weeks ago for the first time in a really long time.

“Now he will be back in it. I think that’s where he belongs. His level is really good when he plays like this. It’s nice to see him back in the top 10.”

Belgians Gille and Vliegen win doubles title

Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Belgium won their first ATP Masters 1000 doubles title as a team on Sunday. The unseeded Belgians defeated unseeded Marcelo Melo of Brazil and Alexander Zverev of Germany, 5-7, 6-3, 10-5, in one hour and 34 minutes on Court Rainier III.

“We are super happy,” Gille said after the victory, during an on-court interview. “It was maybe a little unexpected with the start of the year. We have had a couple of rough months, some adjustments to make and now we start playing on clay and we had an extraordinary week here in Monte-Carlo in one of the most beautiful tournaments in the world. We are just so happy and excited for what is to come.”

Vliegen added: “We have beaten teams we have never beaten before and then in the final, coming back from a set down, so it is a really nice story.”

The winners combined to hit three aces, won 83 percent of their first-serve points and outpointed Melo and Zverev, who were playing for the second time this season and in their first final as team, 71-59.

Gille and Vliegen had never gone beyond the first round at Monte-Carlo until this week. They went 5-0 to win the title after reaching the semifinals in Estoril a week ago and have moved up 18 places to No. 6 in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Team Rankings. They are 14-9 on the season.

By the numbers

Nine of Casper Ruud‘s 10 ATP Tour titles have come on clay. Since the start of the 2020 season, Ruud has gone 98-28 on clay.

“Quotable …”

“It’s in my eyes, one of the all-time players to try to beat. Today I was able to do it. Something I can remember for the rest of my life and tell hopefully my kids in the future and my grandkids when I’m getting old that, you know, I beat Novak one time at least.

“Yeah, it’s a fantastic feeling. Obviously, I hope I can play more times before — you know, no one knows how long he plans to play for, but obviously he’s getting older, but he’s still physically in good shape and playing fantastic tennis. But it’s always fun to play against him, because, you know, it’s one of the toughest challenges in our sport.”

— Casper Ruud, during his post-match news conference, on what it meant to him to finally defeat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

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