Jannik Sinner don start him clay-court season with one big bang, as de Italian player thrash Ugo Humbert for just 64 minutes for him opening match for Monte Carlo Masters. Dis win dey put Sinner for position to overtake him rival Carlos Alcaraz as world number one if he manage win de title for Monaco.
Sinner, wey just win de Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami Open back-to-back without dropping any set, continue him winning streak with 6-3 6-0 victory over de Frenchman Humbert. Na him first match on clay since last season French Open final wey he lose to Alcaraz.
“It was a good performance from my side,” Sinner talk after de match. “De first tournament on clay never easy.” De Italian enter dis clay-court season with no points to defend until Italian Open for May, after missing dis part of last year due to three-month doping suspension.
For de other side, Carlos Alcaraz dey prepare to defend him Monte Carlo title against Sebastian Baez. De Spaniard don just start him 66th week as world number one, moving am level with Sinner. Alcaraz, wey be 22 years old, win titles for Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros last season, plus lose final for Barcelona.
De second-round face-off between Alcaraz and Baez go happen on April 7 (Tuesday) at Monte Carlo Country Club for Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France. De match get tentative start time of 2 pm local time. FanCode go stream de match live for Indian viewers, while Sky Sports and NOW go show am for UK. For United States, Tennis Channel and Tennis TV go provide coverage.
Alcaraz and Baez don clash three times before, with Alcaraz winning all three occasions. But dis go be dia first meeting on clay surface, wey dey add more intrigue to de match. Baez, wey be clay-court specialist, just break him Monte Carlo duck by defeating Stan Wawrinka for opening round.
Meanwhile, plenty drama don already happen for de tournament. Former champion Andrey Rublev battle through injury scare to advance to second round, while three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas suffer him first-ever opening-round defeat for Monaco, falling to Francisco Cerundolo.
Frenchman Gael Monfils safely progress to round two, while David Goffin lose him opening match. Carlos Alcaraz even emerge courtside to applaud de Belgian off de court. 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka also bow out for round one, before making retirement claims.
For other news, Andy Murray no rule out taking coaching role in future after six-month stint working with Novak Djokovic last year. Emma Raducanu continue to work on her fitness after withdrawing from WTA 500 tournament for Linz.
Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar don join de list of young players making mark on tennis history after claiming him first ATP Tour title for Marrakech Open. De 19-year-old defeat Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-2 for final. According to tennis journalist Jose Morgado, Jodar become only de 11th teenager dis decade to capture ATP Tour title.
Alcaraz take to Instagram Stories to send congratulations to Jodar after de win. “Great job, Rafa Jodar! Congratulations! Let’s go!” de message read. Jodar no dey part of Monte Carlo Masters field but expected to appear for Barcelona Open on April 11.
Alcaraz talk say he dey eager to get him socks dirty on clay again as he return to Monaco dis week to build momentum for him French Open title defence. “This is probably one of de best times of de season for me,” he tell reporters for Monaco on April 5. “It’s been long time since Roland Garros dat I no touch clay. For my first practices, I talk to my team say na time to get de socks dirty again.”
De Spaniard, wey miss last year Madrid Open due to injury, hope to play full schedule before Roland Garros. “Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome. It’s very demanding physically and mentally,” Alcaraz talk. “De week for Barcelona na when I suppose rest, but Barcelona na very important tournament for me.”
Alcaraz add say winning Monte Carlo trophy last season prove to be turning point for him. “After de feeling wey I get here, I just get better and better,” de 22-year-old talk. He suffer shock loss to American Sebastian Korda for last 32 of Miami Open before coming to Monaco.
For women tennis, Jessica Pegula show smooth transition to clay, clinching back-to-back victories at WTA Charleston Open by routing Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-2, 6-2. De victory follow her win for Dubai for February and na de 11th title of de 32-year-old American career.
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