Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev continued their free-fall in unison with respective third-round exits from the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Thursday afternoon.
Rublev’s first tournament with coach Marat Safin on the team got off to an encouraging start in the form of a straight-set victory over Gael Monfils, but it was a much different story against a similarly-named Frenchman 24 hours later. The ninth-ranked Russian bowed out to a red-hot Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-3 in just one hour and one minute.
Medvedev was just as uncompetitive, as he fell to Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 12 minutes.
Rublev is just 10-8 this season and has lost his opening match at five events. He will be in danger of vacating the top 10 when he defends is Madrid Masters title later this spring. Medvedev is already out of the top 10 (currently 11th). He has not won a title in exactly two years (2023 Rome Masters) and has not reached a final since the 2024 Indian Wells Masters.
Fils’ reward is a quarterfinal showdown against Carlos Alcaraz, who rolled over Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-1.
“I’m playing the quarterfinal here in Monte-Carlo for the first time,” Alcaraz noted. “It’s going to be really difficult against Arthur, who is playing great tennis. It’s going to be an interesting match. It’s going to be beautiful to watch, and hopefully the people are going to enjoy it.”
is it over for these guys?