Tsitsipas, Rublev clash for Monte Carlo title
MONACO: Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev will clash in Sunday’s (Monday in Manila) Monte Carlo final with both men looking to confirm their top 10 credentials with a maiden Masters crown.
With world number one Novak Djokovic and 11-time champion Rafael Nadal already knocked out and world number two Daniil Medvedev forced to withdraw due to a positive Covid-19 test, it’s a final few would have predicted.
Greek fourth seed Tsitsipas defeated Dan Evans, the man who stunned Djokovic in the third round, 6-2, 6-1, in his semifinal on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Eighth-seed Rublev of Russia, having shocked Nadal in the quarterfinals, beat unseeded Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-5.
Tsitsipas has yet to drop a set in Monte Carlo this week and is through to his third Masters 1000 championship match.
He finished runner-up in Canada in 2018 and Madrid the following year.
“A lot of beautiful things happened in Monaco for my family and I would really like to carry on this tradition,” Tsitsipas said.
The 2020 ATP Finals champion added: “I know
I’ll have to raise my level of play to the limits.” The 23-year-old Rublev will now look to record his second straight win over Tsitsipas in the final.
Rublev beat the 22-yearold Greek en route to the Rotterdam title last month to tie their head-to-head series at 3-3.
On clay, they are 1-1 with Tsitispas winning their most recent clash on the surface in straight sets in the Roland Garros quarterfinals last year.
“Of course, I’m feeling great and happy to play one more final, especially my first ATP Masters final,” said Rublev.
However, Tsitsipas will likely be the fresher player in the final. Rublev has spent seven hours and 44 minutes on court in Monte Carlo compared to his opponent’s five hours and 13 minutes. AFP