Greek tennis star, Stefanos Tsitsipas, reached the third round at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday after his opponent, Benjamin Bonzi, was forced to retire due to a wrist injury.
According to a report by ATP Tour, Tsitsipas was savouring his return to the clay courts of Monaco with punishing serves and forehands, but Bonzi was unable to continue beyond 22 minutes, with Tsitsipas leading 4-1 on Court Rainier III.
“A great start out there. A 3-0 lead, I will always take it,” Tsitsipas said post-match.
“Happy to be back on the terre bateau of Monte Carlo. It’s a very unique location during the year and I’m happy this is the time of the year we get to play on these courts. It brings back very good memories.
“It’s very unfortunate what happened out there for my opponent. I wish him the best moving forward.”
Tsitsipas’ Tuesday victory stretched his Monte Carlo winning streak to 11 matches following a third-round loss to Daniil Medvedev in 2019.
Bonzi’s injury denied him an opportunity to fight for what could have been his first Top 10 win against the Australian Open finalist.
Aiming to become the third player to win the Monte Carlo title at least three times in a row, Tsitsipas will now face either Nicolas Jarry or Alexei Popyrin in the third round.
Source: ATP Tour
