Jannik Sinner knocked out Finnish qualifier Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5 6-3 after 83 minutes at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Sinner, who had to save three match points en route to beating Ruusuvuori in a final-set tie-break, converted five of his ten break points.
Sinner saved a break point in the second game of the opening set. The Italian star fended two more break points in the fourth game with an ace and a forehand, but Ruusuvuori converted his third chance to take a 3-1 lead. Sinner broke straight back in the fifth game after Ruusuvuori made two consecutive double faults.
Sinner saved another break point to hold serve in a 11-minute sixth game. The 2021 Miami Open finalist broke serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead, but Ruusuvuori broke straight back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Sinner broke for the third time in the 11th game before serving out on his first set point.
Sinner went up a break in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. He saved a break-back point to hold serve in the fourth game. Sinner earned three consecutive match points in the ninth game. Ruusuvuori saved the first two opportunities, but Sinner converted his third chance, as the Finnish player sent his backhand wide.
Sinner has a 18-3 win-loss record this year and reached quarter finals at the Australian Open, Dubai and Miami.
“I always play tough matches against Ruusuvuori. We play a similar game. I thank the crowd for the support in the most difficult moments of the match. I am not happy with my match, but I have a big room for improvement”, said Sinner.
Sinner will face a third round match against last year’s Monte-Carlo finalist Andrey Rublev, who rallied from one set down to beat Alex De Minaur 2-6 6-1 6-4. Rublev beat De Minaur for the first time after losing his first two head-to-head matches against his Australian oppontent in the Washington semifinal and in the Next Gen ATP Final round robin match in 2018.
De Minaur broke twice in the first and third game to take the first set 6-2. Rublev faced two break points in the first game of the second set. De Minaur missed a forehand drop shot on the second of those break points. Rublev won 11 of of the next 13 games with two breaks in each of the second and third to build up a 6-1 5-1 lead. De Minaur pulled one break back in the decider and earned three break points at 4-5, but Rublev saved them to close out the match after 2 hours and 3 minutes.
Rublev has a record of 19 wins to 4 defeats this year and won two consecutive titles in Marseille and Dubai. The Russian player finished runner up to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Monte-Carlo final last year.
Rublev moved past his next opponent Sinner via retirement in Vienna 2020 before Sinner earned a straight-set win in the quarter final in Barcelona last year.
