Casper Ruud stunned top seed Novak Djokovic 6-4 1-6 6-4 in a thrilling Monte Carlo Masters semi-final on Saturday, avenging his loss in last year's French Open final to set up a title clash with twice champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Holder Stefanos Tsitsipas moved into the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals with a 7-5, 7-6(1) victory over Laslo Djere on Thursday while fourth seed Casper Ruud was knocked out in straight sets by Grigor Dimitrov.
Rafael Nadal's 66-match winning streak on clay will be under great threat when the Spaniard takes on world number one Roger Federer in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters Series on Sunday.
The world number two Spaniard beat the Swiss ace for the second time this season to retain his Monte Carlo Masters title.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will make a late decision on his participation in the next week's Monte Carlos Masters because of an ankle problem.
hampion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Novak Djokovic turned in impressive displays to reach the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Thursday. Nadal, chasing a record-extending 12th Monte Carlo title, broke Grigor Dimitrov's serve on four occasions to defeat the Bulgarian 6-4 6-1.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic reached the Monte Carlo Masters tennis final when he battled back from a set down to defeat sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic showed signs of rediscovering his form with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory over Dusan Lajovic in the opening round of the Monte Carlo Masters.
A near flawless Novak Djokovic crushed Marin Cilic 6-0, 6-3 to set up a blockbuster Monte Carlo Masters semi-final with claycourt king Rafa Nadal, who came through a testing workout by David Ferrer on Friday.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal remains on course for an 11th Monte Carlo Masters title after beating Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-1 in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Djokovic has not reached the last eight of a tournament since last year's Wimbledon and has struggled with a long-term elbow injury.
World number three Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record sixth consecutive time with a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the final on Sunday.
Bhupathi pairing Fernando Gonzalez defeated Dominik Hrbaty and Marat Safin 6-3, 6-3 to enter the second round.
The pair beat the Czech Republic duo of Frantisek Cermak/Leos Friedl in the semi-finals.
Fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov survived a scare against Pierre-Hugues Herbert before holding his nerve to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, while Dominic Thiem edged out Russian youngster Andrey Rublev.
Rafael Nadal clinched a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo title as he geared up for his French Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the final on Sunday.
Djokovic, 38, is winless on clay this year after exiting the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open with straight-sets losses last month, and his form is a concern heading into Roland Garros, which kicks off on Sunday.
Unseeded Alejandro Tabilo beat twice champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday to maintain a remarkable 100 percent record win record over the 24-times major winner.
Britain's Cameron Norrie stunned world number one Carlos Alcaraz to reach the third round of the Paris Masters.
Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from this year's Italian Open, organisers said on Tuesday.
'It's a different surface and I've not had much time to get used to this tournament so my expectations aren't that high.'
Carlos Alcaraz heads to Paris for his French Open title defence having laid down a marker with his victory over world number one Jannik Sinner in Rome
Norway's Casper Ruud won his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday, as he stormed to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over fifth seed Jack Draper in the Madrid Open final with a gutsy performance that showcased his clay-court mettle.
'I have no idea what's happening right now, I'm not in a dream, it's just crazy. I'm just so happy with my performance these past two weeks.'
Andrey Rublev made the most of Holger Rune's nerves to win a see-saw Monte Carlo final 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday, as the Russian's talent was finally rewarded with a Masters title.
Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open on Thursday after the second seed said he was struggling with hamstring and groin injuries.
Ace Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal was off to a winning start in Monte Carlo Masters as he defeated world number 63 Flavio Cobolli of Italy in straight sets in the qualifiers in Monte Carlo on Saturday.
As the spotlight shines on Carlos Alcaraz's title defence and Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam, a determined group of challengers is quietly preparing to shake up the draw.
Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after top seed Jannik Sinner retired while trailing 5-0 in the first set of their final on Monday.
In the evening session, men's third seed Alexander Zverev and women's fourth seed Jessica Pegula were forced off the court mid-match due to rain and the threat of lightning.
IMAGES from the French Open matches played at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Rafael Nadal's mauling of Novak Djokovic in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday was memorable in more ways than one.
Novak Djokovic may have played at the Madrid Open for the last time after crashing out
Putting up a brave fight, India's Sumit Nagal took a set off world number seven Holger Rune before losing his rain-hit second round match of the Monte Carlo Masters, in Monte Carlo on Thursday.
The 26-year-old then made first round exits from the Bordeaux Challenger and Geneva Open earlier this month.
Novak Djokovic said he is building up to hit top form for his French Open title defence.
Briton Andy Murray will make his comeback from injury at this month's Geneva Open after the former world number one was handed a wildcard by the organisers of the French Open tune-up event on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic says he is still dealing with an elbow issue heading into this week's Srpska Open as the Serb looks to get his French Open preparations back on track.
Casper Ruud gained sweet revenge over Stefanos Tsitsipas as he beat the Greek fifth seed 7-5, 6-3 to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday.
It was Nadal's 50th trophy on clay court, his 70th overall and his first title in almost a year
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