Lucky number 13 – Stefanos Tsitsipas topples challenger to keep title defence on track
Stefanos Tsitsipas is safely through to the last eight of the Monte Carlo Masters after ousting Laslo Djere in a less than straightforward affair.
While the Greek did win in straight sets 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) he himself admitted that it took all his concentration to defeat the Serbian world number 62.
Djere is particularly astute on clay, having claimed both his ATP tour titles on the surface and reaching another final on top of those.
Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview: “I knew that I had to be alert and 100%.
“He’s someone who can compete very well on clay and I had to bring the best out of my game today.
“I really had to work hard for this win.”
Djere reached the semi-finals of Marrakech before Monte Carlo, meaning he came into this battle with six matches on clay already this year to Tsitsipas’ one.
Ash Barty’s influence ?@steftsitsipas #RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/3apDu7D4Zs
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2022
Nonetheless the world number four is into the quarter-finals, his 13th at Masters 1000 level and first in 2022 after going out in the round of 32 and round of 16 in Indian Wells and Miami respectively.
Moreover, it is Tsitsipas second Monte Carlo quarter-final consecutively as he looks to defend his maiden Masters title.
He faces either Lorenzo Musetti or Diego Schwartzman next and could meet fellow 2021 finalist Andrey Rublev in the semi-final should both men reach that stage.
Should Tsitsipas succeed in defending his Monte Carlo crown, he would be the first man to defend a Masters title since Nadal won in Canada in 2018 and 2019.
In fact, the last time someone outside the ‘Big Three’ of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic successfully defended a Masters title was when Andy Murray did so in Shanghai by winning in 2010 and 2011.
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