Stefanos Tsitsipas completed a dominant week at the Monte Carlo Masters with a straight-sets victory over Andrey Rublev in Sunday’s final.
The Greek beat Rublev 6-3 6-3 to win the first ATP Masters trophy of his career.
He won the title without dropping a set in five matches and moves into the No.1 spot in the race to the ATP Finals after a successful and consistent start to the season.
Tsitsipas in 2021:
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 18, 2021
✅ ATP Cup (undefeated in singles)
✅ Australian Open semi-final
✅ Rotterdam semi-final
✅ Marseille quarter-final
✅ Acapulco final
✅ Miami quarter-final
✅ Monte-Carlo champion pic.twitter.com/QPA0NqEaXj
“I can’t describe my feelings right now. I am overwhelmed by so many different emotions and nostalgia. It is incredible that I am able to be in the position that I am,” said Tsitsipas after claiming his first title of the season.
“I would consider it as the (best) week of my life so far.”
Fourth seed Tsitsipas was in control throughout the 71-minute final, quickly establishing command when he moved ahead 3-0, his serve and forehand both firing.
That single service break was all he needed to maintain his lead, and after pocketing the opening set he surged 3-1 ahead in the second.
He broke Rublev again in the final game of the match when the Russian sent a backhand wide.
That marked Rublev’s 21st unforced error of the match, compared with just 10 winners; Tsitsipas, meanwhile, finished with a winners-to-errors ratio of 18-13 (including 11 forehand winners).
The Greek dominated on serve, winning 86 per cent of points behind his first serve and 68 per cent on his second and not facing a break point during the match.
He has now won three of his past four meetings with Rublev and has levelled the head-to-head series at 4-4.
“The clay court season couldn’t have started better,” Tsitsipas said.
“I knew that he was going to be a very difficult opponent to face. There were a lot of nerves coming into that match. Playing Andrey was a very difficult thing to do today, also considering that it was a final. There is extra stress and extra importance in the match that we had to play.
“(I am) definitely proud of the way I managed to behave and be out on the court today.”
It was nevertheless an encouraging week for Rublev, who was appearing in his first career ATP Masters final.
He also upset 11-time Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, one of his tour-leading 24 match victories in 2021.
“He was just better than me,” Rublev said of Tsitsipas.
“I feel super sad with the final, that I couldn't show (my) game. I couldn't show fight.
“But of course I'm happy with the week because I beat so many great players. I beat one of the best players in history. It's a special week.”