Trending 
Top seed Alexander Zverev was eliminated in his first match at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, losing 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.
World number two Zverev has been struggling with his form since his loss to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final at the end of January, having won only six out of 12 matches.
Zverev secured the first set against former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, but a service break in the sixth game of the second set allowed the Italian to level the match. Berrettini broke serve at 3-all in the final set, missing a chance to seal the victory on his serve, but he failed again to take a 6-5 lead after an incredible 48-shot rally.
The 34th-ranked Berrettini capitalised on his second chance, moving on to a round of 16 match against either Lorenzo Musetti or Jiri Lehecka. Berrettini has won 17 of his last 18 matches on clay.
Last year, he secured clay-court titles in Marrakesh, Gstaad, and Kitzbuehel. However, due to injuries, he has not participated in the French Open since 2021.
For Zverev, the runner-up at last year’s Roland Garros, it was yet another disappointing performance on clay following quarter-final exits in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. His next event will take place on home ground in Munich.
