Tennis

Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas seek statement win in Monte-Carlo final | ATP


Match Preview

Ruud, Tsitsipas seek statement win in Monte-Carlo final

Ruud won pair’s most recent Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting this year in Los Cabos

April 13, 2024

Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas meet on Sunday in a high-stakes Monte-Carlo title match.

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas meet on Sunday in a high-stakes Monte-Carlo title match.
By Arthur Kapetanakis

After upset wins against the top two men in the PIF ATP Rankings, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud bid to sign off at Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters with another signature victory in Sunday’s final.

Tsitsipas stopped the winning streak of reigning Miami champion Jannik Sinner in Saturday’s semis before Ruud defeated World No. 1 Novak Djokovic for the first time, with both underdogs prevailing in three sets. Both players have historically found their best tennis on clay courts and now seek a statement title on that surface.

Tsitsipas is playing for his biggest trophy since back-to-back triumphs at his home club in Monte-Carlo (2021-22). He slipped out of the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings earlier this season, but will rejoin to that elite group behind his Monaco run. Already assured of a rise to World No. 9, he could move to No. 7 with the title.

The Greek is prepared to suffer for glory on Sunday against Ruud, whose heavy spin and ability to open up the court present a unique set of problems on the clay.

“I think the conditions make the battle,” Tsitsipas said, also referencing the Monte-Carlo heat. “There is pleasure in the battle, because playing in Europe under these conditions feels like home. I grew up playing as a young kid in similar conditions, so grinding and playing for hours and hours out there brings me a little bit of my childhood memories on the tennis courts in Greece.”