Top-seeded Zverev knocked out early in Monte Carlo by Berrettini, Tsitsipas downs Thompson

Top seed Alexander Zverev crashed out in his opening match of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday after losing 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

World number two Zverev has struggled for any kind of form since his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final at the end of January, winning just six of 12 matches.

“It’s been the worst period since my injury (the) last few months,” said Zverev who has suffered a string of early exits of late, including at Indian Wells.

“I played a great first set, and once I got broken in the second set I play ten levels down. My ball is much slower. I stop hitting the ball.

“The same story the last few months. Nothing changes. So it’s me who lost the match, once again.

“I thought my level was terrible, but that’s just my opinion.”

Zverev won the first set against former Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini but a break of serve in the sixth game of the second set allowed the Italian to level the match.

Berrettini broke at 3-all in the final set before blowing a chance to close out victory on his own serve, but he broke again for a 6-5 lead after an astonishing 48-shot rally.

The 34th-ranked Berrettini made no mistake with his second opportunity though, advancing to a last-16 meeting with Lorenzo Musetti or Jiri Lehecka.

“The game plan was the same but I changed my attitude and the way I was believing in my strokes,” Berrettini said.

“I told myself to be more aggressive and if I am going to lose this match, I am going to do the right things and luckily it worked.”

‘Comfortable on clay’: Berrettini has won 17 of his past 18 matches on clay. Last season, he captured clay-court titles in Marrakesh, Gstaad and Kitzbuehel. However, he hasn’t played at the French Open since 2021 due to injuries.

“I have missed the biggest tournament on clay for the past three years and that was tough and now I want to enjoy it. I feel really comfortable on clay,” said the former world number six.

For Zverev, last year’s Roland Garros runner-up, it was another disappointing outcome on clay after quarter-final exits in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. His next tournament will be on home soil in Munich.

Dane Holger Rune, the 10th seed, retired due to illness against Portugal’s Nuno Borges.

Rune, the Monte Carlo runner-up in 2023, called for the doctor after losing the opening set before shaking hands with his opponent while trailing 6-2, 3-0.

Three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Australia’s Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Novak Djokovic -- the winner in 2013 and 2015 -- and Carlos Alcaraz start their campaigns on Wednesday.

Hampered by a broken hand, Frenchman Ugo Humbert also made an early exit, eliminated in the first round by Australian Alexei Popyrin 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.

The 26-year-old Humbert, who had fallen to world No. 20 after a difficult US swing in which he won only one match, revealed he suffered a broken little finger after playing with a bandaged right hand.

“I fell and hit my hand against a bedside table. I heard a ‘crack’ and I broke the bone,” he had explained on Saturday before facing Gael Monfils at the UTS in Nimes.

While Humbert failed to join Monfils, Richard Gasquet, and Alexandre Muller in the second round, French number one Arthur Fils asserted his seeded status by defeating Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2.

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, a two-time Monte Carlo semi-finalist, defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 6-4, on his seventh match point.

Agence France-Presse