The Monte Carlo clay courts, once a stronghold for Stefanos Tsitsipas, produced a major surprise as Francisco Cerundolo defeated the Greek star 7-5, 6-4, ending his campaign before it gained momentum at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. The victory signals Cerundolo’s growing presence on the tour and raises questions about Tsitsipas’s current form.
Tsitsipas had never lost his opening match in Monte Carlo in eight previous appearances, compiling an impressive 22-4 record at the venue. Yet, recent struggles, including a 6-8 tour-level record since the United Cup, carried over onto his preferred surface, culminating in a shock early defeat.
Cerundolo, seeded 16th, played with confidence despite briefly losing a double-break lead in the second set. The win marked his first over Tsitsipas in three attempts and highlighted the Argentine’s steady rise on clay this season. Cerundolo claimed his fourth career title in Buenos Aires in February and reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open, compiling a 15-6 record in 2024 so far.
For Tsitsipas, the loss has significant ranking implications. Currently at No. 48, he will drop out of the Top 60 for the first time since April 2018, when he was ranked 63rd. The result underscores a concerning decline for the former Grand Slam finalist, who has struggled to maintain the form that once made him a consistent contender on the ATP Tour, especially on clay.
Cerundolo now advances to a second-round clash against Tomas Machac, who defeated Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. The matchup promises to test the Argentine’s momentum as he looks to continue his strong run in Monaco.
