Monte Carlo Masters Takeaways - New name destined for title as shocks continue with Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune winning

We are down to the business end of the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters with some shock quarter-final results ensuring there will be a new name on the trophy on Sunday evening. Paul Hassall was at the Monte Carlo Country Club on Day 7 to take in the four matches on Court Rainier III and pick out some of the main takeaways from the action.

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There would be no ‘three-peat’ nor a potential Rafael Nadal-style monopoly of the tournament going forward as he instead suffered a chastening defeat, only his third ever at the MCCC, against an opponent who has suggested very little clay-court prowess previously in comparison. World No.10 Taylor Fritz has stormed up the ATP rankings in the past year with some excellent result on hard courts but he’s not been known for making an impact on the dirt.

The 25-year-old Californian has never gone beyond the third round at Roland Garros and has made little impact in Madrid and Rome. In contrast, Tsitsipas, who will drop to No.5 on the ATP rankings on Monday after failing to defend the trophy, has won four clay titles and competed in 10