By Ricky Dimon
The Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters is shortly turning into Stefanos Tsitsipas’ favourite match.
Tsitsipas made it back-to-back titles within the principality when he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-6(3) on Sunday afternoon. The world No. 5 had hassle closing it out within the second set, however he steadied himself in a tiebreaker to prevail after one hour and 36 minutes.
Tsitsipas’ victory in 2021 (d. Andrey Rublev within the last) felt a little bit bit totally different as a result of capability was extraordinarily restricted because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This time round there was a full throng of followers who appreciated the Greek’s tennis all week lengthy. More often than not it was dominant tennis, though he did survive one large scare within the type of a 4-0 third-set deficit towards Diego Schwartzman within the quarterfinals.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” Tsitsipas mentioned following the ultimate, “as a result of we had the group this 12 months concerned. It was a bit extra full of life than final 12 months. I feel it’s double extra particular in quite a lot of methods, ranging from after all rather more nerve-racking — to have folks concerned, you will have the followers yelling and chanting. But it surely was an effective way to high it off with a number of preventing in the long run. (I used to be) not a lot going for clear winners or for an excessive amount of lovely tennis, however attempting to place within the arduous work in each single level and go over the bounds.”
Davidovich Fokina, who surprised Novak Djokovic within the second spherical, was competing in his first-ever ATP last.
“(It) was (an) wonderful expertise,” the 22-year-old Spaniard assured. “I loved each day right here, profitable huge, huge (matches)…beating Djoko…. (It) was a troublesome week; (a) lot of feelings. My physique now could be happening; perhaps I want a beer or one thing.
“However, you realize, for me this week with my group was wonderful. (It) was a dream come true to play right here in Monte-Carlo (with a) full crowd. , to listen to the folks supporting (me) was wonderful. I used to be on the bench pondering, ‘wow, what a second.’”
For Tsitsipas, it was a second that one the heels of his 2021 triumph means he’s the sixth man to defend a Monte-Carlo title. The opposite 5 are Ilie Nastase (1971, 1972, 1973), Bjorn Borg (1979-80), Tomas Muster (1995-96), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2002-2003), and Rafael Nadal (2005-2012, 2016-2018).
Nastase, Borg, Muster, Ferrero, and Nadal are all French Open champions they usually all reached No. 1 on this planet.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You’ll be able to observe him on twitter at @Dimonator.
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