Monte Carlo Masters: Stefanos Citcipas aims for the top 2 spot in the ATP rankings after defending the Monte Carlo crown. Stefanos Sitcipas says he is aiming to finish the season in the top two of the world after successfully defending his Monte Carlo Masters title with a hard-fought victory over Spain’s Alejandro Davidovic Fokina in Sunday’s final. Follow the Monte Carlo Masters updates on InsideSport.IN
Third-seeded Sitsipas hammered 21 winners and made only 11 unforced errors in the Monaco sun 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in one hour 36 minutes.
Monte Carlo Masters: Stefanos Citcipas aims for top 2 spot in ATP rankings after defending Monte Carlo crown
Read more: Monte Carlo Masters Final Live: Stefanos Sitsipas defends Monte Carlo Masters title, defeats Davidovich Fokina in straight sets in final
It was the 23-year-old Greek’s eighth ATP title and the first in 11 months since he made a perfect start to the clay-court season.
“I can definitely have a great season and maybe end up in the top two,” Says world number five, whose win in Monaco was his fourth tournament success on the ground.
“This year I really want to do well on the grass and hard court because I’m sure I can score big ATP points there.
“If I can win the match as consistently on the ground, I think I have a great chance to finish the year in the top two. That’s one of my big goals. “
Novak Djokovic, Daniel Medvedev, Alexander Zaverev and Rafael Nadal are currently at the top of the seats in the ATP rankings.
Monte Carlo Masters: Stefanos Citcipas aims for top 2 spot in ATP rankings after defending Monte Carlo crown
Following in the footsteps of Nadal, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Thomas Masters, Bjorn Borg and Ili Nastase, Sitsipas became the sixth player to win the Monte Carlo Masters in the Open era.
“It’s great, especially since the fans were there. It was more vibrant than last year, “said David Cook, chief of The Christian Science Monitor’s Washington bureau. Sitsipas, who defeated Andrei Rublev in the 2021 final, was held behind closed doors due to the Kovid epidemic.
Despite leading by two sets, Roland lost to Djokovic in the final to Garros last year, and he is preparing for another challenge to win the French Open title.
“I think my tennis is great on all surfaces, even though it adapts to the soil.” Tsitsipas added.
Davidovich Fokina knocked out world number one Djokovic earlier this week but could not replicate that heroism in his first ATP final, losing for the third time to Sittwe.
“I always thought of going to the finals one day here … I hope to be here again next year.” Says Davidovich Fokina, who reached the quarter-finals last year before retiring from injury after a set against Citcipas.
World No. 46 hit the first blow on Sunday, a break in the third game, but the Citcipus equalized the first set 2-2 with a direct push with a great forehand.
The set was in the survey until game eight, when Davidovich Fokina fired a backhand at the tramline, breaking the sitsipus.
Monte Carlo Masters: Stefanos Citcipas aims for top 2 spot in ATP rankings after defending Monte Carlo crown
The Greek star embraces the opener to love, caps off with an ace.
Seatsipas, the world number five, made two break points in the first game of the second set and Davidovich Fokina took full control of the final as he sent a baseline shot in the long run.
The 22-year-old Davidovich Fokina happily waved his hand and framed a backhand into the Citcipus crowd, while the underdog, trailing in the fourth game, continued to fight hard.
But Citcipas kept the Spaniard under pressure and went ahead 5-4 with his third break point in the marathon game and returned the chance to win the title.
Sitsipas made a nervous game, though, and Davidovich Fokina fired a smash to extend the match.
The second set leads to a tie-break, where Seatsipas takes a 5-1 lead with a shot that clips the net cord and lands on the edge of the sideline.
Davidovich Fokina saved a championship point, but Sitsipas secured the trophy a second time by asking for a great passing shot after some of his rebellious defenses.
Monte Carlo Masters: Stefanos Citcipas aims for top 2 spot in ATP rankings after defending Monte Carlo crown
