Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur defeat Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev respectively to seal progress to the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals.
Monte Carlo, Monaco, 10 April 2025 | Ian Chadband, AAP
Australian tennis favourites have made majestic progress on the Monte Carlo Masters, with Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin every claiming high-profile wins on the way in which to reaching the quarterfinals.
Following one another on to the No.2 courtroom at Monaco’s Nation Membership on Thursday, Popyrin first saved two match factors en path to outstaying world No.7 Casper Ruud 6-4 3-6 7-5 earlier than De Minaur raised eyebrows by means of the benefit with which he demolished outdated foe Daniil Medvedev 6-2 6-2.
It marks the primary time that two Australians have reached the quarterfinals of an ATP Masters 1000 match for the reason that inception of that format in 1990.
There’s additionally a tantalising prospect of additional progress for the Sydneysider friends, with De Minaur dealing with Grigor Dimitrov and Popyrin up in opposition to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Friday’s last-eight matches.
After a difficult begin to his season, Popyrin appears like he’s beginning his tennis 12 months once more as he earned his finest victory of 2025 over Ruud.
A 12 months after he knocked out the then world No.6 Andrey Rublev at Monaco’s prestigious Nation Membership, the Australian this time accounted for one more large title at his most profitable European clay-court venue in a draining, close to three-hour tussle.
Twice, Popyrin was a degree away from bowing out when 5-3 down within the deciding set earlier than he rallied and went on the assault in opposition to Norway’s three-time Grand Slam finalist, reeling off the ultimate 4 video games for probably the greatest clay-court triumphs of his profession.
> RELATED: Popyrin and De Minaur launch clay-court seasons in model at Monte Carlo Masters
It additionally put a troublesome begin to his 12 months behind Popyrin, who had solely received two matches earlier than launching his clay-court season in Monte Carlo
“No, I’m 3 and 0 this 12 months – I’m forgetting concerning the begin of the 12 months for me!” laughed the 25-year-old, when requested about his early 2025 type after such a formidable breakthrough marketing campaign final season.
“It was a tricky begin of the 12 months however this week is a brand new week, and the 12 months is de facto, actually lengthy, and I simply must put within the work and neglect concerning the final couple of months – and that’s what I’ve executed this week.”
The 2-hour 56-minute win over Ruud, sealed by a cross-court volley which was his forty ninth winner of the match, arrange a conflict with Davidovich Fokina, who additionally pulled off a shock by defeating British fifth seed Jack Draper 6-3 6-7 (6) 6-4.
Eighth seed De Minaur smiled he was now actually discovering his toes on clay after trouncing an out-of-sorts world No.11 Medvedev by incomes seven breaks of serve in a one-sided affair lasting solely 72 minutes.
Reckoning he’d taken confidence from how he had crushed the previous US Open champ at Roland Garros final 12 months, world No.10 De Minaur feels he might be “harmful” on the floor now as he reached the quarters in Monte Carlo for the second-straight 12 months.
“I assumed I executed very well, simply had a slight lapse in focus. However aside from that, I assumed I used to be very good and tactically performed the fitting manner,” stated de Minaur, who’ll play fifteenth seed Dimitrov, a 6-3 3-6 6-2 victor over Alejandro Tabilo.
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