Stefanos Tsitsipas made a winning start to the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday after the world number five cruised past Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4 and into the last 16.
Greek Tsitsipas, who had been given a bye into the second round, took just one hour and 24 minutes to beat 29th-ranked Russian Karatsev.
The 22-year-old exploited a whopping 32 unforced errors from Karatsev to set up a clash with either Australian John Millman or Chile’s Cristian Garin.
“I knew I had to face a difficult opponent today,” Tsitsipas said in his post-match interview.
“Aslan has (had some) great results this year… I managed to push him back and attack with my forehand. Things worked out pretty well for me.
“My clay court experience helps a lot to come back each year stronger, knowing that I have done better before. It was a very beautiful game out there and I enjoyed it.”
Tsitsipas advanced to the third round in Monte Carlo for the second edition in a row, equalling his best result at
the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event.
Novak Djokovic meanwhile will face Jannik Sinner in his second round match after the up-and-coming Italian saw off Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.
Teenager Sinner has risen to 22nd in the world rankings after reaching the final of the Miami Open earlier this month.

Results
(x denotes seeding)
1st rd
Jannik Sinner (ITA) bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6-3, 6-4
Dan Evans (GBR) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-3, 6-7 (11/13), 6-2
Hubert Hurkacz (POL x13) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Marco Cecchinato (ITA) bt Dominik Koepfer (GER) 6-4, 6-3
Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-3, 6-4
Cristian Garin (CHI x16) bt Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 7-6 (7/3), 6-1
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) bt Pablo Andujar (ESP) 0-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)
Lucas Pouille (FRA) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 6-3, 6-4
Salvatore Caruso (ITA) bt Lucas Catarina (MON) 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x9) bt Taylor Fritz (USA) 6-2, 7-5
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x14) bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-3, 6-4
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 6-4, 0-6, 7-5
Federico Delbonis (ARG) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 7-5, 6-1
Casper Ruud (NOR) bt Holger Rune (DEN) 6-2, 6-1
Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt Laslo Djere (SRB) 6-4, 6-1
Fabio Fognini (ITA x15) bt Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-2, 7-5
Filip Krajinovic (SRB) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-1, 2-0 - retired
2nd rd
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x4) bt Aslan Karatsev (RUS) 6-3, 6-4
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA x8) 7-5, 6-3