Twin Success For Monegasque Doubles Stars

Home favourites Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys gave the Monte-Carlo crowd plenty to cheer on Monday, with both Monegasque players advancing alongside their respective partners in the doubles draw at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Arneodo, teaming with Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, came through a tense opening-round battle to defeat Argentine duo Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6(6), 3-6, 10-5. The Franco-Monegasque pair (pictured above) held their nerve in the Match Tie-break after two hours of play to secure their place in the next round.

The victory continues a strong run of recent success for Arneodo in the Principality. A finalist in 2023, he lifted the doubles title last year on the clay of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, becoming the first Monegasque player to have his name etched on the tournament’s honours list.

There was further local success as Nys partnered Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin to upset seventh seeds Francisco Cabral and Joe Salisbury 6-4, 7-6(2). The pair delivered a composed performance, sealing victory in a second-set tie-break to advance.

Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini and Andrea Vavassori produced a strong finish to claim a hard-fought opening-round win. Competing as wild cards, the Italians defeated Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.

Berrettini and Vavassori were particularly effective behind serve, winning 83 per cent of points on their first delivery, and raised their level when it mattered most by taking seven of the final 10 points in the Match Tie-break.

Vavassori, currently No. 15 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, is well acquainted with their next opponents, third seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten. The Italian defeated the pair alongside regular partner Simone Bolelli en route to the Miami title last month.