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Andrey Rublev’s Monte Carlo Masters title defence ended on the first hurdle on Wednesday with a straight-sets defeat by Australian Alexei Popyrin, whereas Jannik Sinner eased by.
The Russian by no means bought going within the second-round tie as Popyrin eased to a 6-4, 6-4 win on the conventional clay courtroom warm-up for the French Open.
The world quantity 46 will face compatriot Alex de Minaur, who beat Tallon Griekspoor in three units, for a potential quarter-final in opposition to Novak Djokovic.
“I loved popping out on centre courtroom for the primary time. First event on clay of the yr and I’ve good reminiscences from clay final yr,” stated Popyrin, who gained his second ATP title in Croatia on clay in 2023.
“I’m feeling actually snug on it and completely happy to beat a man who was in kind, assured and the defending champ. It was an superior match.”
The loss prolonged a poor run of kind for Rublev, after a defeat in his opening match in opposition to Tomas Machac in Miami and dropping to Jiri Lehecka within the Indian Wells final 32.
The sixth seed had a break level to stage at 5-5 within the second set, however discovered the web and Popyrin closed out the victory.
Rublev lifted his first Masters 1000 title in Monaco final yr by beating Holger Rune within the last.
Australian Open champion Sinner cruised by, although, seeing off American Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-2.
The world quantity two transformed seven of the 12 break factors he created and saved all three of those he confronted in a dominant efficiency.
The Italian will subsequent play Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany within the final 16.
“Yearly, it is powerful to come back right here and attempt to carry out properly, however I am very completely happy about this efficiency and let’s examine what’s coming within the subsequent spherical,” stated Sinner, who misplaced to Rune within the semi-finals 12 months in the past.
“I have never served very properly, however I returned very properly, I stayed near the baseline.”
Indignant Medvedev by
Daniil Medvedev made brief work of a doubtlessly difficult opening tie with Gael Monfils, sealing a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Nevertheless it was not all plain crusing for the Russian on courtroom as he remonstrated with umpire Mohamed Lahyani over a line-judge name.
Trailing 4-1 within the second set, Medvedev recovered his composure to win 5 straight video games and open his clay courtroom season with an authoritative win.
“It was a tactical recreation right here and there however I felt good,” stated Medvedev.
“I performed good pace the place I might defend properly and never give him (Monfils) two simple balls.”
The world quantity 4 will subsequent go head-to-head with fellow Russian Karen Khachanov within the third spherical, with both Alexander Zverev or Stefanos Tsitsipas ready within the final eight.
Talking about his subsequent opponent, the 2021 US Open champion stated: “I believe Karen likes (clay) extra however I can play properly on clay… Even when I’m 45 I can say I’ve a Rome Masters title, so I can play properly on it and I’m completely happy about it.”
Medvedev has reached not less than the semi-finals in all 4 of his earlier tournaments to this point this season.
Two-time champion Tsitsipas confirmed indicators of a return to his finest, thrashing Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 6-0 in simply over an hour.
French 14th seed Ugo Humbert progressed with a 6-1, 6-4 success in opposition to China’s Zhang Zhizhen.
He’ll subsequent tackle Lorenzo Sonego, who ensured former top-10 participant Felix Auger-Aliassime’s depressing run of kind continued, successful 6-4, 7-5.
Italy’s Sonego solely reached the principle draw as a fortunate loser after the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz.
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz additionally went by in straight units, defeating Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).
Three-time Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud is up subsequent for Hurkacz, after the Norwegian brushed apart Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-4.
Rain then swept in throughout the early night, forcing the suspension of play with seventh- and ninth-seeds Rune and Grigor Dimitrov each one set to the nice respectively.
Play will resume Thursday with Denmark’s Rune up a set and a break in opposition to Indian Sumit Nagal and Miami Open finalist Dimitrov main Serb Miomir Kecmanovic.
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