Tsitsipas defends Monte Carlo Masters I Salisbury & Ram win doubles title

Stefanos Tsitsipas successfully defended his Monte Carlo Masters title with a straight-sets victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday.

Tsitsipas missed an opportunity to serve out for the match in the second set but regrouped to take a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) victory in a little over 90 minutes, with the win set to move him up to second in the ATP Race to Turin.

"I am very proud of myself," the 23-year-old said on the ATP website.

"Things weren't going well at one point, but I managed to stay composed to finish the match off. I am really proud with the belief I put in my game. Sometimes you doubt yourself, but it is always important to keep your head high."

Surprise package Davidovich Fokina, who knocked out top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz in the earlier rounds, drew first blood by breaking Tsitsipas to take a 2-1 lead in the opening set.

But the world No 46 surrendered his serve in the next game, allowing Tsitsipas to take control of the contest again and go a set up in only 31 minutes with a near-flawless display on Court Rainier III.

The pair traded breaks again in a see-sawing second set before Tsitsipas pounced in the tie-break to secure the victory and his eighth career title when Davidovich Fokina was unable to deal with a blistering backhand.

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Earlier on Sunday, Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram underlined their new status as the top-ranked doubles pairing in the world with a hard-fought 6-4 3-6 10-7 win over Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.

Salisbury, 29, reached the No 1 spot in the rankings for the first time on Monday.

"It's unbelievable," he said on court. "I'm so happy right now. It's a first title on