Tsitsipas slump deepens with record Monte Carlo loss

Francisco Cerundolo sent three-time Monte Carlo Masters champion Stefanos Tsitsipas into a downward spiral with a 7-5, 6-4 first-round win which sent the Greek’s ranking plummeting even further.

Tsitsipas, who stood eighth in the world when he played the event a year ago, now stands 48th; he last reached a quarter-final nearly a year ago in Barcelona.

Tsitsipas was frustrated by an Argentine opponent  who needed five match points to prevail for a place in the second round.

The Greek, once a top 10 regular, dropped the opening set and came form 0-4 down in the second to level before Cerundolo ran away with the win.

It was the earliest loss at the Country Club for Tsitsipas, who lifted the trophy in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

The Greek committed 38 unforced errors and lost serv six times as Cerundolo claimed his 50th match win at the Master 1000 level.

‘I knew it would be super-difficult, Stefanos feels super comfortable here, “the winner said. “I had a great match, though it was up and down in the second set.

“I got a bit tight and he played better. But I stayed tough mentally and was able to close it down in two sets.”