Monte-Carlo
Blockx and Fonseca Shine with Stellar Debuts in Monte-Carlo
Cerundolo stuns three-time champion Tsitsipas; Rublev and Vacherot also emerge victorious on Day 2.
April 06, 2026
Image Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Alexander Blockx triumphs over Denis Shapovalov in a riveting three-set encounter on Monday.
Reported by ATP Staff
In an exhilarating display of talent, both Alexander Blockx and Joao Fonseca marked their debut at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters with remarkable wins Monday afternoon, though their journeys to victory unfolded quite differently.
The 20-year-old Blockx demonstrated remarkable composure, edging past former World No. 10 Denis Shapovalov with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to progress to the next round of the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event. Facing a daunting 0/40 on his serve while leading 5-3 in the final set, the Belgian qualifier saved four break points—including an impressive leaping backhand winner on the fourth—before clinching victory after one hour and 46 minutes.
Having previously celebrated his first ATP Tour win in Cincinnati last year and later reaching the final of the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals, where he fell to Learner Tien, Blockx—standing tall at 6’4” and entering the Top 100 this January—will next face 10th seed Flavio Cobolli in Monte-Carlo.
Meanwhile, Fonseca also rose to the challenge in his inaugural match in the Principality. The 19-year-old Brazilian captivated the audience by winning five straight games after trailing 1-3 in the second set, ultimately defeating Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 6-3 to secure his second-round spot.
After battling injuries and struggling to find his rhythm earlier in the season, Fonseca showcased a return to form during the recent tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, where he faced top players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Now ranked No. 40 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Fonseca will continue his quest against French competitor Arthur Rinderknech, who recently upset Karen Khachanov with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
“I’m super excited about my first win here,” Fonseca expressed following his first matchup with Diallo. “Clay is a surface I really enjoy. I’ve been investing a lot in my fitness, and I’m thrilled to be back at my best, feeling healthy and in rhythm.”
Don’t miss the Extended Highlights of Day 2’s action in Monte-Carlo:
On Day 2 in the Principality, Francisco Cerundolo pulled off a stunning win against three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas with a score of 7-5, 6-4. Tsitsipas attempted a comeback by winning four consecutive games after falling behind 0-4 in the second set, but the 16th-seeded Cerundolo remained steadfast to set up a clash with Tomas Machac.
Both Czechs Machac and Jiri Lehecka celebrated three-set victories on Tuesday. Machac overcame Daniel Altmaier with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, while Miami finalist Lehecka edged past qualifier Emilio Nava 7-6(1), 6-7(8), 6-2 in a match lasting over three hours.
Andrey Rublev, who claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo in 2024, began his title defense with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Nuno Borges. He’s set to face Zizou Bergs, who triumphed over Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3.
Valentin Vacherot concluded the day on Court Rainier III with an electrifying 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, igniting his home crowd. Vacherot now looks ahead to a matchup against fourth seed and last year’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti.
