Stefanos Tsitsipas successfully defended his Monte Carlo Masters title, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-6(3) in the final.
The Greek star is only the sixth player to win back-to-back titles in Monte Carlo.
Tsitsipas’ eighth career title and second Masters 1000 title, will see him rise to No. 2 in the ATP Race to Turin.
“I am very proud of myself,” Tsitsipas said post-match. “Things weren’t going well at one point, but I managed to stay composed to finish the match off. I am really proud with the belief I put in my game. Sometimes you doubt yourself, but it is always important to keep your head high."
Davidovich Fokina, who defeated Djokovic, Fritz and Dimitrov on his way to his first Masters 1000 final, pushed the Greek star all the way in an enthralling final, falling just short of becoming the first unseeded winner at Monte Carlo since Muster in 1992.
The Spaniard gained an early break of serve in the first set but was immediately broken back as Tsitsipas began to find his range with his blistering groundstrokes.
The world No. 5 continued to overpower Davidovich Fokina, gaining another break of serve in the crucial eighth game of the first set and was then able to calmy close out the first set.
The giant-killing Spaniard fought back from an early break down in the second set but Tsitsipas showed his class to win his second Masters 1000 title.
“He fought in moments I didn’t expect him to fight,” Tsitsipassaid. “He can hit incredible winners out of nowhere and play unpredictably. But I was able to minimise that. I knew he would be a dangerous opponent but that is a great win for me. I think we will see great results from him in the future.”
Following his incredible performance in Monte Carlo, Davidovich Fokina will rise to a career-high ATP ranking of No. 27.
Both men will now look to continue their impressive form at the Barcelona ATP 500 tournament which commences today.
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