Stefanos
Tsitsipas advanced to his third Monte-Carlo Masters final and positioned
himself behind Rafael Nadal in the best winning percentage in the Open Era of
the tournament. Nadal's significance at the Monte-Carlo Country Club is
undeniable as the tournament's all-time winner with the incredible tally of 11
titles. His immediate followers have "only" three trophies each (Ilie
Nastase, Bjorn Borg and Thomas Muster).
The Greek
has found Monte-Carlo to be one of his favorite tournaments, reaching his third
final in four years and improving his record at the event to 20-3 in his sixth
participation. Tsitsipas boasts his best record in Masters 1000 tournaments
there, surpassing his 13 victories at the Italian Open. Also it’s the only
Masters tournament where he has a winning percentage above 80%.
The 2-times
Grand Slam finalist is the fourth player of the century to reach 3+ finals
within a four-year span in Monte-Carlo, a feat previously achieved only by
Guillermo Coria, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Nadal.
Tsitsipas's
huge semifinal victory over world No. 2 Jannik Sinner once again places him in
the Monte-Carlo final, this time against Casper Ruud, who also caused an upset
by eliminating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The Greek can join the select list
of players who have won the Monte-Carlo title three times and is beginning to
steer his 2024 season in the right direction after a somewhat inconsistent
start.
Now
Tsitsipas ranks as the second player with the best winning percentage in the
Open Era at Monte-Carlo with an 86.4% victory rate, only behind the almost
unreachable 92.4% of Rafael Nadal. Tsitsipas surpassed other historical figures
such as Nicola Pietrangeli (85.7%), Guillermo Coria (82.1%), and Mats Wilander
(81.3%).
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.