Berrettini Shines on Clay, Zverev Struggles in Monte Carlo

Matteo Berrettini upsets Alexander Zverev in Monte Carlo, while Holger Rune retires due to illness, and Stefanos Tsitsipas begins his title defense.

Top seed Alexander Zverev suffered a shocking defeat in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters, losing 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Italy's Matteo Berrettini. This loss marks another disappointing result for Zverev, who has struggled to find form since his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final at the end of January.

Alexander Zverev won the first set against Berrettini but failed to maintain his momentum, allowing the Italian to level the match with a crucial break of serve in the sixth game of the second set. Berrettini seized control in the final set, breaking Zverev at 3-all and eventually securing a 6-5 lead after an intense 48-shot rally.

The defeat leaves Zverev's recent struggles in stark relief, with the world number two winning just six of 12 matches since the Australian Open. Berrettini, a former Wimbledon runner-up, capitalized on Zverev's inconsistencies to claim a notable victory and boost his own confidence heading into the tournament.

The 34th-ranked Berrettini seized his opportunity, advancing to the last 16 where he will face either Lorenzo Musetti or Jiri Lehecka. “The game plan was the same but I changed my attitude and the way I was believing in my strokes,” Berrettini said. “I told myself to be more aggressive and if I am going to lose this match, I am going to do the right things and luckily it worked.”

Berrettini has been in exceptional form on clay, winning 17 of his past 18 matches. He enjoyed a successful clay-court season last year, capturing titles in Marrakesh, Gstaad, and Kitzbuehel. Despite his strong record on the surface, Berrettini hasn't played at the French Open since 2021 due to injuries, making his current performance a promising sign for his future prospects.

MATTEO BERRETTINI IS SENSATIONAL 🔨

Dropping the hammer on world number two Alexander Zverev in Monte-Carlo 🤯#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/13eJ0lh58I

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) April 8, 2025

Berrettini expressed his enthusiasm for playing on clay, a surface where he feels particularly comfortable. “I have missed the biggest tournament on clay for the past three years and that was tough and now I want to enjoy it,” he said. “I feel really comfortable on clay.”

Zverev's struggles on clay continued with another disappointing outcome, following quarter-final exits in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. The former world number two will look to regroup and find his footing on the surface, with his next tournament set to be on home soil in Munich.

Meanwhile, Danish 10th seed Holger Rune was forced to retire due to illness against Nuno Borges. Rune, who was runner-up in Monte Carlo in 2023, called for the doctor after losing the opening set and eventually shook hands with his opponent while trailing 6-2, 3-0.

The tournament will also feature top players Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic, who will begin their campaigns against Jordan Thompson and an as-yet-undetermined opponent, respectively. Carlos Alcaraz, another top contender, starts his campaign on Wednesday. Tsitsipas, a three-time champion, will look to defend his title, while Djokovic, the winner in 2013 and 2015, aims to add another Monte Carlo crown to his collection.