Defending champion Andrey Rublev has suffered a shock opening round defeat against Alexei Popyrin in Monte-Carlo.
The world number six suffered a 6-4 6-4 defeat in one hour and 40 minutes against the aggressive Australian.
It’s Rublev’s third consecutive defeat with the 26 year-old only winning one match since his disqualification in Dubai against Alexander Bublik.
However it was a landmark win for Popyrin as he looks to be seeded for Roland Garros with the Australian currently at 46 in the world.
Speaking after the match Popyrin detailed his game-plan to defeating the defending champion, “I enjoyed coming out on centre court for the first time. First tournament on clay of the year and I have good memories from clay last year,” Popyrin told the ATP website.
“I am feeling really comfortable on it and happy to beat a guy who was in form, confident and the defending champ. It was an awesome match.
“The idea was not to give him the same ball. He is probably the best player from the baseline when you give him rhythm, so I tried to change the pace, height and spin and I think it worked really well for me today.”
Should results go against Rublev this week than he could drop to outside the world’s top ten.
As for Popyrin, he will now face compatriot Alex De Minaur in the third round.
