Monte Carlo Masters 2024 Day 5 Recap

Eight players are left at the 2024 Rolex Monte Carlo Masters with Djokovic, Sinner, Rune, Ruud, de Minaur, Tsitsipas, Khachanov, and Ugo Humbert.

In the day’s opening match, Karen Khachanov proved too strong for Daniil Medvedev, who couldn’t overcome another mid-match meltdown as he fell 3-6 5-7 to his fellow countryman.

The all-Australian clash then saw de Minaur take out Popyrin with a rock-solid display, and he’s the first Aussie into the last eight at the Principality since Mark Phillipousis back in 1999.

The two unfinished round of 32 matches also concluded, with Grigor Dimitrov easing past Miomir Kecmanovic while Holger Rune was pushed to three sets by Sumit Nagal.

The two then met after suitable rest, and the Dane prevailed in the best match of the day, saving two match points en route to winning 7-6(9), 3-6, 7-6(2).

Elsewhere, top seed Novak Djokovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti in a competitive encounter, and second seed Jannik Sinner proved too robust for Jan-Lennard Struff.

Stefanos Tsitsipas also played one of his best matches of the year to take out fifth seed Sascha Zverev, and there were evening wins for Casper Ruud (def. Hurkacz) and Ugo Humber (def. Sonego).

You can see the results and select highlights below.

Day Five 2024 Monte Carlo Masters Round of 16 Results

Khachanov Cracks Medvedev

Karen Khachanov reached his first Monte Carlo quarter-final, taking out compatriot Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 53 minutes.

It was a close, tough match for both, and you know Medvedev is always up for lots of running. However, Khachanov’s ball had more quality, and he was the stronger player in the big moments, firing 22 winners to just 12 unforced errors.

Medvedev leaks the Principality with a 19-5 record for the season so far, and his game has been very up and down of late and seems to lack that bit of sting he had on some of his shots last season.

I lost a couple of tight matches to him on hard courts. On clay, I have not got a title yet, but I have good results on clay. Roland Garros, two-time quarter-finals. I always win matches, but not the tournaments. In a way, I think overall, my results on clay are better than his, maybe, and mentally, he said many times he does not like to play on it. That gives me extra confidence, and maybe on clay, the game is a little bit different. I mean, it is different, and that is the way I tried to approach today. I tried to spin more and move him outside the line. A few differences between hard courts and clay courts. Khachanov on his win over Medvedev.

Tsitsipas Tops Zverev

The Monte Carlo Masters is often where Stefanos Tsitsipas produces his best tennis, and he continued that trend on Thursday, completing a 7-5, 7-6(3) win over the in-form Sascha Zverev.

Tsitsipas dictated play from the start, with the surface allowing him to run around his backhand and crack his forehand with authority.

While both men held four break points in the opening set, the Greek converted one to win the set 7-5.

From there, it was quickly 5-0 in the second set, and Tsitsipas had two match points to deliver a bagel.

However, he failed to serve out the match twice, throwing in some shaky service games that allowed Zverev to reel off five consecutive games.

A tiebreak then ensued, and Tsitsipas managed to regroup, moving up an early mini-break and maintaining it to get across the line 7-3. 

Overall, I think he was the aggressor of the two, and that paid off for him. He’s also reverted to his tried and trusted platform stance which looks the stronger of the two motions.

I would call it an adventure of a lifetime. I am not faced with it every day, and the momentum shifted dramatically at some points. It went one way and then completely the other way again. I don’t even know; I am trying to figure out right now what happened. I was 5-0 in the second set. However, things looked pretty good in the tie-break, especially when I got the mini-break. It is a big win. I am grateful I was able to play the way I did today. It took a lot of mental strength throughout the entire match. It was very consistent from the beginning to the end. I felt very dominant from the baseline. I could create pace and open the court, which greatly helped me. There is more tennis to be played, I am excited to see what the future holds. Today’s match was a great assessment of how much I can fight in tough moments. Tsitsipas on his second set wobble.

Djokovic Avenges Musetti Loss

A year ago, the world number one faced a surprising third-round loss to the Italian at the Monte Carlo Country Club, and it seemed like history might repeat itself at this year’s tournament when Musetti took an early lead in the first set with some nice variable hitting from the baseline.

Yet, overcoming Djokovic twice is no small feat, and the two-time champion refused to go down without a fight.

The turning point came when the Serbian secured a crucial break in the 12th game of the first set. He then delivered greater intensity and freedom in the second set despite relinquishing a break of serve when leading 4-2 to recover for a  7-5, 6-3 victory in one hour and 59 minutes.

It was a little exchange with the crowd at 4-3, 40/0 for him in the first set, and ever since then, I gained momentum. He lost focus a little bit. He was the better player for those first seven games, played some great tennis. Played really good shots and made me run. But this is clay, and obviously, things can turn around very quickly, and a break of serve is not a big advantage on this surface compared to the other surfaces. We saw a little bit of a rollercoaster in the second set, so I am pleased that staying tough and aggressive in the tight moments paid off.

I don’t think I am still at my top level but it was a great test today against a great player, a very talented player. I lost to him last year here, similar circumstances. I was a set and 4-2 up and I must say it was in the back of my mind when I was serving at 4-2, 40/15 and lost my serve today. I thought, ‘Oh no, hopefully this is not similar scenario like last year’. I am really glad to overcome the challenge and look forward to the next one.Djokovic on his win over Musetti.

Rune Rallies Past Dimitrov

In the best match of the day, Holger Rune saved two match points to see off Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(9), 3-6, 7-6(2) and snapped Dimitrov’s six-match winning streak in deciding tiebreaks to progress.

Both players were on double duty, but Rune had the more arduous battle. Sumit Nagal pushed him to three sets earlier in the day, yet he could hold up well physically during the three-hour, 30-minute tusHe’llHe’ll meet Jannik Sinner in the quarter-final.

Dimitrov played some brilliant points, but when the two match points did nor go his way, the tiebreak was a bit of a flop, and Rune played freely and aggressively from the baseline, which got the job done.

It was a great match. I thought I played a very good first set; it was very long, one-and-a-half hours. So it was tough physically. I had a match earlier today, which was two sets, so I played five sets today, actually, which is pretty brutal. To beat Grigor, who’s played such a good and last season, and to get my revenge is a great feeling. I played very well, and I’m happy to beat him. Rune on his tussle with Dimitrov.

Monte Carlo Masters 2024 Quarter Final Matches

2024 Monte Carlo Masters Quarter Final Matches