Cerundolo Sinks Tsitsipas, Who Slips From Top 50

Francisco Cerundolo had never beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas heading into their blockbuster first-round meeting Monday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. He was also taking on the Greek at his favourite hunting ground, where the former World No. 3 has won three titles.

But on current form, Cerundolo deserved to start the favourite and backed up that billing with a 7-5, 6-4 win.

Cerundolo is at a career-high No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings; Tsitsipas is at No. 64, his lowest mark since 2018.

Cerundolo took advantage of Tsitsipas’ 38 unforced errors to claim his 50th match win at ATP Masters 1000 level and book a second-round meeting with Czech Tomas Machac, a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 winner over Daniel Altmaier.

“I’d lost twice to Stefanos on indoor hard courts so I knew that today it would be different, but he’s won here three times, so I knew it would be super difficult,” Cerundolo said. “I felt really good and played a great match.

“I got a little tight in the second set and he started to play better, but I stayed tough mentally and managed to close it out.”

In a match of shifting momentum, Cerundolo broke in the opening game but was later forced to break Tsitsipas at 3-5 to stay in the set. In the second set the Argentine raced to a 4-0 lead only to see the Greek fight back to level at 4-all.

Argentine Masters 1000 Win Leaders