MONACO — The Monte Carlo Masters kicked off with a disappointing start for Canadian tennis stars Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, who both faced early exits in their respective first-round matches on Monday, April 7, 2025. The clay-court tournament, known for its picturesque setting and challenging surface, proved to be a tough battleground for the Canadians.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, seeded 16th, was up against German qualifier Daniel Altmaier. The match was tightly contested, with Auger-Aliassime showing promise but ultimately falling short. He lost the match 7-6 (5), 6-3. In a dramatic twist, Altmaier came back from being down an early break in the second set and managed to fend off triple break points in the final game. This victory marked Altmaier's second win against Auger-Aliassime, improving his record to 2-0 against the Canadian.
Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov, hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, faced American Marcos Giron. Shapovalov also found himself on the losing end, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (5). The second set was particularly intense, as Giron clinched the final three points of the tiebreaker, including the match point on return. This match improved Giron's head-to-head record against Shapovalov to 3-1.
Despite Shapovalov's powerful performance, which included six aces, he struggled with four double faults, while Giron maintained a clean slate with no double faults and only one ace. The contrasting styles of play highlighted the challenges both Canadians faced on the clay surface, which demands precision and consistency.
As the tournament progresses, the focus shifts to other players who are making their mark. Daniil Medvedev, the ninth seed, managed to secure a hard-fought victory against fellow Russian Karen Khachanov. Medvedev's match ended with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, showcasing his determination to bounce back after a slow start to the 2025 season that saw him drop out of the top 10 in the world rankings.
The match between Medvedev and Khachanov was a rollercoaster, with both players having ample opportunities to capitalize on their opponent's serve. Medvedev converted nine of his 20 break chances, while Khachanov was slightly less effective, converting eight of 16. Medvedev had a chance to close out the match earlier, leading by a set and 4-1 in the second, but Khachanov rallied, winning five consecutive games to take the second set.
Medvedev, despite facing cramps during the match, expressed satisfaction with his performance. “I practiced very well before the tournament, better than I played today, though I played well. It's the first match on clay — it's not my favorite surface — so some important points and some shot decisions were not good enough,” he said. He added, “But I'm happy to win. I watched the matches today on clay and there were a lot of breaks; all of them were up and down.”
Looking ahead, Medvedev will face Alexandre Muller in the next round after Muller defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli from Argentina with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
Other notable results from Monday included Ben Shelton, the 11th seed, who suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who won 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1. Shelton's exit was unexpected given his recent performances, and it raises questions about his form going forward.
Italian player Matteo Berrettini also advanced, defeating Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4, 6-4. Berrettini's next opponent will be the top seed, Alexander Zverev, setting up a highly anticipated clash. In their last meeting at Wimbledon in 2023, Berrettini emerged victorious, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this upcoming match.
Meanwhile, No. 13 seed Lorenzo Musetti showed resilience in his match against China's Yunchaokete Bu, coming back from a set down to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Musetti's victory sets him up for a second-round match against Czech player Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6 (7).
In an exciting turn of events, Chilean Alejandro Tabilo overcame former Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, winning 1-6, 7-5, 7-5, and will face Serbian great Novak Djokovic, the No. 3 seed, in the next round. Tabilo's victory is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the tournament, as he continues to build on his momentum.
As the Monte Carlo Masters progresses, fans can expect more thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes. With each player vying for the coveted title, the competition is heating up, and the stakes are high. The next rounds promise to deliver more drama and excitement as players battle it out on the clay courts of Monaco.
