Bopanna/Shelton, Khachanov/Rublev Day 1 doubles winners

Rohan Bopanna and Ben Shelton enjoyed victory in their first match together on Sunday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where the Indian-American team defeated Francisco Cerundolo and Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 7-5.

A host of top singles stars were in doubles action on Sunday, with World No. 14 Shelton one of them. Playing with the experienced doubles specialist Bopanna, Shelton and the 45-year-old broke their opponent’s serve three times to advance after 71 minutes.

Bopanna has triumphed in The Principality in the past, lifting the trophy with Pablo Cuevas in 2017.

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev made a winning start to their campaign, defeating sixth seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus 6-4, 6-2. Khachanov and Rublev won the ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid in 2023.

Last year’s finalists Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev were unable to replicate their run this week, losing to Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.

The British pair clinched a 6-1, 6-4 win to continue their good recent form. Last week, Cash and Glasspool advanced to the final at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, falling to Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.