Stefanos Tsitsipas extends Monte Carlo winning streak with clinical victory
Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas earned a 6-3, 6-4 third-round victory over Nicolas Jarry to extend his Monte Carlo Masters winning streak to 12 matches.
Tsitsipas took just 93 minutes to blow past Jarry and into the last eight of the first clay court Masters event of 2023.
He was rock-solid on his own serve finishing the match having won 80 percent of the points on his first serve.
Tsitsipas made the most of the two opportunities he had to break Jarry’s serve which would be enough to get him through the third round encounter.
The second seed also saved both the break points he face with his high-percentage serving coming through in the clutch.
“I had to deal with a few [tough] points, especially when he had break points,” said Tsitsipas after the victory.
“I dealt with those situations very maturely and played precisely, so it was great out there.”
Although Tsitsipas sports an impressive Monte-Carlo record off the back of two title runs, the Chilean had won the pair’s only prior ATP Tour meeting.
That was on the grass of ‘s-Hertogenbosch back in 2019 though when Tsitsipas was an emerging talent. The Greek was delighted with how he took command of a hard-fought battle though, ensuring that the 2019 outcome would not be repeated.
“He’s someone that has had good results on clay, someone that can serve big as well,” Tsitsipas said of Santiago titlist Jarry, who lifted his second ATP Tour title in his home event in February on clay.
“It was all sort of played in the small details, and I’m really happy that I pulled through and gave myself such a good ending to this match.”
Tsitsipas will next take on the winner of the Round of 16 clash between Taylor Fritz and Jiri Lehecka in what is a tantalising prospect of quarter-final clash.
ATP Monte Carlo Masters results
Results from the ATP Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday (x denotes seeding; players representing Russia and Belarus are banned from competing under the name or flag of their countries):
3rd rd
Jannik Sinner (ITA x7) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL x10) 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1
Holger Rune (DEN x6) bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA) walkover
Andrey Rublev (x5) bt Karen Khachanov (x9) 7-6 (7/4), 6-2
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Casper Ruud (NOR x4) 6-1, 7-6 (8/6)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x2) bt Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 6-3, 6-4
