The biggest stars of the ATP Tour are meeting in the Monte Carlo Masters, which seems poised to bring new surprises at the start of the clay-court season. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev was eliminated in the second round by Matteo Berrettini, a loss that has consequences for the Rankings.
The Italian, who had one of the best comebacks in 2024 after suffering a right ankle injury in 2023, earned the biggest win of his career by ATP Rankings by beating Zverev 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in an epic thriller. With this loss, Zverev’s potential claim of the World No. 1 from Jannik Sinner is mathematically over.
That means that, when Sinner returns to action, from completing his three-month ban, he will be World No. 1. Sinner is set to compete in the Masters of Rome, which starts on May 7th. He will be the first Italian to play on home soil as World No. 1.
Zverev reacts to his loss against Matteo Berrettini in the Monte Carlo Masters (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
On the other hand, Zverev’s loss is the latest of what has been a difficult period for the 27-year-old German, who has a 6-7 win-loss record since his Australian Open semifinals win after Novak Djokovic’s retirement. The 27-year-old will next head to the ATP 500 event on home soil in Munich.
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The ATP Race keeps open
While Jannik Sinner is confirmed to stay at the top of the ATP Rankings until his return, the ATP Race for the ATP Finals in Turin still can change. Sinner will stay at the top of the Race only if neither Jack Draper, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz make the final, or if Alex De Minaur doesn’t win the title.
Berrettini’s strong record on clay
Matteo Berrettini has now won 17 of his last 18 matches on clay. The 28-year-old collected ATP Tour clay titles last season in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbühel, and opened his Monte Carlo campaign this week with a straight-sets win over Mariano Navone, his first match on the surface this year.
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“I played on clay until I was 19, it’s what I grew up on,” Berrettini said. “We don’t play on it much on Tour, but I’ve missed the biggest clay event the last three years, and that’s been hard. I really want to enjoy it now. I feel very at home on clay.”
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Up next, Berrettini will face either Jiri Lehecka or fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti. Musetti was the last Italian before Berrettini to beat a Top-2 player on clay, upsetting Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo in 2023.
