Italian tennis continues to shine in Monte-Carlo, a tournament that has often brought joy to the Azzurri. The high point came in 2019, when Fabio Fognini was crowned champion after beating Dusan Lajovic in the final–and, more importantly, Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. “It was the best match of my career,” Fognini recalled at a press conference earlier this week.
The 2023 edition added to the legacy: Lorenzo Musetti stunned World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to set up a historic quarter-final against fellow Italian Jannik Sinner. Fast forward to 2025, and another chapter has been written. This time, Matteo Berrettini delivered the shock — defeating top seed Alexander Zverev in a dramatic three-set battle. The victory didn’t just send Berrettini into the spotlight, it also secured Sinner’s status as World No. 1 until at least the Italian Open — a tournament that marks both a homecoming and his return from a three-month ban. But Matteo clarified: ‘I’m not going to text Jannik just because I beat Zverev — that would feel a bit self-centered”.
Berrettini Delivers the Upset
Despite having faced inconsistency and off-court pressure this season, Zverev was still seen as a dangerous early-round opponent. Bookmakers had him as the clear favorite, boasting a 4–2 record in previous meetings and a game naturally suited to clay — unlike Berrettini, who has never truly found rhythm on the Monte-Carlo courts. In fact, until this week, he had only once moved past the opening round, in 2023, before retiring due to an abdominal injury — “one of the toughest days of my career,” he once admitted.
The opening set followed the script: Zverev played near-flawless tennis and claimed it 6–2. But Berrettini fought back. Dialing up the aggression, he forced the German into a flurry of unforced errors, taking the second set 6–3. The decider had it all — tension, grit, and even a jaw-dropping 48-shot rally. Although Berrettini failed to serve it out at 5–4, he broke again shortly after and sealed a memorable win that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Sinner Says Thanks — and Makes History
Zverev’s early exit comes with consequences — most notably for Jannik Sinner, who is now guaranteed to enter the Italian Open as World No. 1. It’s a landmark moment: Sinner becomes the first Italian ever to play his home Masters 1000 as the top-ranked player in the world.
With Zverev and Alcaraz both struggling for form since the doping ban shakeup, Sinner’s grip on the rankings has never truly been under threat. But now it’s official: he will return to the court in Rome not just as a national hero, but as the standard-bearer of men’s tennis. He also currently leads the Race to Turin, reinforcing his dominance as the season heads into its clay-court heart.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
