Tsitsipas trumps Rublev in Monte Carlo Masters final

Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Monte Carlo Masters, beating Andrey Rublev in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 for his first title this year and sixth overall.

Fourth-seed Tsitsipas was in dominant form as he edged 4-3 ahead of the sixth-seed Russian in their career meetings, having also beaten him on clay last year in the French Open quarter-finals.

“I had an unbelievable week. It is incredible that I am able to be in the position that I am … I would consider it as the best week of my life so far,” Tsitsipas said.

“There were a lot of nerves coming into that match. Playing Andrey was a very difficult thing to do today, also considering that it was a final. I am proud of the way I managed to behave on the court.”

Tsitsipas also clinched his first Masters title. “It is even more special doing it here in Monte Carlo and doing it on clay, which is my favourite surface,” he said.

The Greek, 22, won his last title in February last year at the Open 13 indoor tournament in Marseille.

Rublev, 23, was aiming for his second title of the year, his first at Masters level and ninth overall. He produced an audacious display to defeat record 11-time champion Rafael Nadal on Friday. After winning the ATP Cup with Russia, Rublev reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and then won the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam last month for his fourth title in seven months. Since Rotterdam, he has reached four consecutive semi-finals, including Monte Carlo.

But he could not even get a break point against Tsitsipas, who raised a trophy at the Monte Carlo Country Club, 40 years after his Russian mother Julia Salnikova did so.