Ruud without a chance

Monte Carlo: Tsitsipas against Ruud from 3 p.m. LIVE

Tsitsipas won the first set with aplomb.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Valery HACHE)

Stefanos Tsitsipas won the final of the ATP tournament in Monte Carlo against Casper Ruud in two sets. The Greek played furiously in the first set and won it 6:1. The Norwegian put up more resistance in the second set, but ultimately had no chance here either (6:4). 

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas has confirmed himself as a specialist for the Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Monte Carlo. As in 2021 and 2022, the Hellene won his first title since August on Sunday, winning the final 6-4, 6-1 against the Norwegian Casper Ruud, who was ranked four positions ahead of him at number eight. Tsitsipas will thus return to the top ten in the world rankings. He had defeated Jannik Sinner from South Tyrol in the semi-finals on Saturday, while Ruud beat Novak Djokovic from Serbia.

Casper Ruud

(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Tsitsipas joined an elite circle with his success. Only four other players have won at least three finals in Monte Carlo. The Spaniard Rafael Nadal is the undisputed eleven-time winner, while Styrian Thomas Muster, Swede Björn Borg and Romanian Ilie Nastase have each won a triple. Before the Monte Carlo week, Tsitsipas had only managed eleven wins this season with six defeats, but with his first victories at an event against three top ten players (including Alexander Zverev/GER) since 2018, things could now be looking up for him.

The third strike
"The third time is even more special than the first or second time," noted Tsitsipas after his success. "This is an incredible victory for me. It took a lot of nerves to win it. I really wanted this third title." He thanked his family and friends. "And God, if he's out there and made this moment possible. I'm very grateful to every person who has made this journey possible."

At least on this Sunday, the 25-year-old also inspired Monegasque Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, among others. Tsitsipas dominated the first set and also had an answer in the second round against an improved Ruud. The winning break to make it 6:4 was ultimately decisive. Tsitsipas converted four out of eight break points, whereas he fended off all eight against him. He now moves up to seventh place in the rankings, one place behind Ruud.

He missed out on the first Masters 1000 title won by a Scandinavian since the Swede Magnus Norman won in Rome in 2000. For both finalists, it was their eleventh ATP tournament win. Ruud has won all ten of his previous titles at ATP250 level. He had already suffered a few bitter defeats in finals before that, such as twice at the French Open, once at the US Open and once at the ATP Finals, as well as once at Masters 1000 level in Miami 2022.