Sinner Hangs On, Wawrinka Falls In Monte Carlo; Djokovic Tuesday

Jannik Sinner held off Borna Coric in the first round at Monte Carlo on Monday. Sinner advanced 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 after having to save a break chance early in the third set and some sort of ab injury during the match.

“It was a tough match because first time on clay after quite a while, it’s never easy,” Sinner said. “So I’m very happy about my performance, even if it was not my best. I think at the end of the match I raised my level, which for me was important.”

Coric was playing his first clay match since Rome in the fall of 2020 following a bad shoulder.

“I know Borna quite a lot already, so I wish him all the best. It’s nice to see him back on Tour,” Sinner said. “I feel back in shape and ready to compete.”

2014 champion Stan Wawrinka fell victim to Alexander Bublik 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Wawrinka was playing his first tour match since Doha 2021 and first Masters event since Paris 2020 following multiple foot surgeries.

“I think the body’s getting much better,” Wawrinka said in his post-match press conference. “I’m still far away from where I want to be, but I think I’m [going in] the right direction. I think today was a positive match. It was a tough loss, of course, but I’m happy with the way I was playing today.

“I was playing better, feeling better on the court of course physically. I spent a lot of mental energy to focus, to stay there as it was tough at the end. But I’m happy with what I have done today.”

Hubert Hurkacz, Pablo Carreno Busta, Diego Schwartzman and Marin Cilic were also winners. Sebastian Korda advanced as well, he’ll now face Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday.

Cilic eliminated the retiring Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who will end his career at the French Open. The Frenchman was not helped by the cool conditions by the sea.

Tomorrow, Novak Djokovic opens his clay season against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. And Stefanos Tsitsipas begins his title defense as he faces Fabio Fognini.

TUESDAY MONTE CARLO SCHEDULE
COURT RAINIER III start 11:00 a.m.
D. Evans (GBR) vs. [LL] B. Bonzi (FRA)
L. Musetti (ITA) vs. B. Paire (FRA)
[1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs. A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
[3] S. Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. F. Fognini (ITA)

COURT DES PRINCES start 11:00 a.m.
[16] L. Sonego (ITA) vs. I. Ivashka
[1] T. Fritz (USA) vs. [WC] L. Catarina (MON)
[Q] H. Rune (DEN) vs. A. Karatsev
D. Lajovic (SRB) vs. G. Dimitrov (BUL)