Match Report
Zverev rallies from 2-5, battles past Garin in Monte-Carlo; Fonseca advances
Ruud sets Auger-Aliassime meeting
April 08, 2026
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Alexander Zverev in action on clay for the first time this season.
By Sam Jacot
Alexander Zverev rallied from the brink on Wednesday to stay alive at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Competing on clay for the first time this year, Zverev battled from 2-5 in the deciding set to defeat Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. In a mammoth final game, the World No. 3 saved three break points before he eventually sealed victory on his third match point. Zverev let out a roar after finally triumphing under the April sun on Court Rainier III after two hours and 50 minutes.
“My level was not there at all to be honest,” Zverev said. “But it was my first clay-court match in 11 months. I didn’t have much time to prepare as I played well in Miami. I am happy to get the win. It was a tough match and he is someone playing well, especially here. At the end of the day, sometimes it is just about getting the win.”
The two-time Monte-Carlo semi-finalist Zverev reached the last four at the first two Masters 1000 events of the year in Indian Wells and Miami, as well as the Australian Open. However, the German looked set for his first opening-round exit of the season in the middle of the third set against Garin.
Yet despite committing 47 unforced errors and trailing 0-4 and 2-5 in the third set, the 28-year-old locked down from the baseline just in time to advance. Zverev will next meet Zizou Bergs after the Belgian beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1.
Garin came through qualifying before he dispatched Matteo Arnaldi for the loss of six games to reach the second round in the Principality. High in confidence, the 29-year-old was aggressive but faltered just before the finishing line, with Zverev upping his intensity. Garin has found his best level on clay in the past, clinching all five of his tour-level titles on the surface. The Chilean is level with Zverev at 2-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
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In other action, Joao Fonseca became the youngest man to reach the third round in Monte-Carlo since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005. The 19-year-old Brazilian eliminated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Fonseca is making his debut in the Principality and has impressed on clay in the past, lifting the trophy at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires in 2025. The World No. 40 will play Matteo Berrettini in the third round.
Miami finalist Jiri Lehecka notched a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 win against Alejandro Tabilo. Lehecka, competing at a career-high No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will face eighth seed Alexander Bublik in the third round.
Casper Ruud set a third-round clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime. Ninth seed Ruud downed Corentin Moutet 7-5, 6-3 and sixth seed Auger-Aliassime beat Marin Cilic 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the last 16 in Monte-Carlo for the first time. Ruud, a finalist in Monte-Carlo in 2024, has won 12 tour-level titles on clay.
