Stefanos Tsitsipas is showing little sign of slowing down at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
The 2021 and 2022 champion extended his winning streak at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event to 12 matches on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-4 third-round victory against Nicolas Jarry.
The second-seeded Tsitsipas delivered a rock-solid display to seal a 93-minute victory against the World No. 58 Jarry on Court Rainier III. A single break of the Chilean’s serve in each set was enough to secure a quarter-final spot for Tsitsipas, who won 80 per cent (32/40) of points behind his own first delivery and saved both break points he faced.
“I had to deal with a few [tough] points, especially when he had break points,” reflected Tsitsipas. “I dealt with those situations very maturely and played precisely, so it was great out there.”
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Although Tsitsipas carried a stellar Monte-Carlo record into his clash with Jarry, it was the Chilean who had triumphed in the pair’s only previous ATP Head2Head meeting on the grass of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2019. The Greek was pleased with the way he took control of a hard-fought encounter to ensure there would be no repeat of that result.
“He’s someone that has had good results on clay, someone that can serve big as well,” added Tsitsipas of Jarry, who lifted his second ATP Tour title at home in Santiago in February. “It was all sort of played in the small details, and I’m really happy that I pulled through and gave myself such a good ending to this match.”
Now the owner of a 14-2 record in Monte-Carlo, Tsitsipas next prepares for a quarter-final clash against eighth seed Taylor Fritz. The American dug deep to defeat Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals in the Principality for the second consecutive year.
Fritz, who notched his 50th Masters 1000 win with his second-round victory against Stan Wawrinka, is now 22-6 for the 2023 season. However, the World No. 10 will be attempting to defeat Tsitsipas for the first time in four tour-level matches in Friday’s quarter-finals.