Zverev Stages Epic Comeback Against Garin in Monte-Carlo; Fonseca Moves On
Ruud Prepares for Showdown with Auger-Aliassime
April 08, 2026
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Alexander Zverev makes his clay debut of the season.
By Sam Jacot
In a gripping encounter on Wednesday, Alexander Zverev fought back from a precarious position to continue his journey at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Tackling the clay for the first time this season, Zverev clawed his way back from 2-5 in the decisive set, ultimately triumphing over Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. In a tense final game, the World No. 3 saved three break points before sealing the win on his third match point. A victorious roar escaped him as the sun shone down on Court Rainier III, concluding a grueling two-hour and 50-minute match.
“Honestly, my performance wasn’t at the level I wanted,” Zverev admitted. “It was my first clay match in almost a year, and I hadn’t had much time to get ready after my success in Miami. Nevertheless, I’m thrilled with the victory. It was a challenging match and Garin is definitely in form here. Sometimes, just winning is what matters most.”
Having reached the semifinals at both Indian Wells and Miami, along with the Australian Open earlier this year, Zverev nearly faced an early exit in his Monte-Carlo opener.
Despite an uncharacteristic 47 unforced errors and trailing 0-4 and 2-5 in the third set, the 28-year-old dug deep to secure a spot in the next round. Zverev’s upcoming challenge pits him against Zizou Bergs, who comfortably dispatched Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1.
Garin, who came through qualifying, had previously dominated Matteo Arnaldi to earn his place in the second round. Though full of confidence and aggression, he stumbled just short of the finish line as Zverev raised his game. On clay, Garin has showcased his best form, boasting five tour-level titles on the surface, and currently holds a 2-2 head-to-head record against Zverev.
In other matches, Joao Fonseca emerged as the youngest competitor to reach the third round in Monte-Carlo since legends Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005, taking down Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
This marks Fonseca’s debut in the Principality, but he has left his mark on clay after winning the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires last year. Now ranked No. 40, he is set to clash with Matteo Berrettini in the next round.
Miami finalist Jiri Lehecka secured a hard-fought victory against Alejandro Tabilo, with scores of 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3. The Czech player, now at a career-high ranking of No. 13, will meet eighth seed Alexander Bublik next.
Casper Ruud is set for a thrilling third-round matchup with Felix Auger-Aliassime. The ninth seed Ruud dispatched Corentin Moutet 7-5, 6-3, while the sixth seed Auger-Aliassime overcame Marin Cilic 7-6(4), 6-3, marking his first appearance in the last 16 at Monte-Carlo. Ruud, the 2024 finalist in this prestigious event, has claimed 12 tour-level titles on clay.
