Stefanos Tsitsipas's run at this year's Monte-Carlo Masters has ended, but it didn't end without a record-tying feat. Tsitsipas bowed out of Monte-Carlo on Friday in an entertaining, hard-fought three-set match loss to Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 3-6, 4-6. This week was the Greek's bid for a fourth title in Monaco. Tsitsipas has had much success at this event, winning it in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Tsitsipas entered Monte-Carlo this year as the sixth seed and No. 8 in the ATP rankings. However, with his defeat to Musetti, Tsitsipas will fall out of the top 15 ATP rankings, dropping from No. 8 to No. 16. It's been some time since Tsitsipas has sat outside of the top 10, and he will now have his worst ranking in the past seven years.
Despite the loss and disappointing rankings drop, Tsitsipas did exit Monte-Carlo with an admirable accomplishment, one that puts him side by side with the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal
Stefanos Tsitsipas ties Rafael Nadal with Monte-Carlo Masters record
Nadal won in Monte-Carlo eight times in a row between 2005 and 2012. Tsitsipas has three and has a long way to go to catch Nadal. However, he also shares clay court success with Nadal outside of Monte-Carlo.
Of Tsitsipas's 12 titles, five of them have come on clay: Estoril's The Millennium Estoril Open in '19, Monaco's Monte-Carlo in '21, '22, and '24, and Lyon's Open Parc in '21. Coincidentally, all but one have occurred in France. Nadal won 63 of his 92 singles titles on clay.
Until Tsitsipas's quarter-finals berth this week, no player had reached five consecutive quarter-finals at Monte-Carlo since 2000, save for Nadal. Rafa's 11 titles at the event are likely unbeatable, as is the legend's overall dominance on clay.
That said, Tsitsipas can at least put his name up beside Nadal's when it comes to quarterfinal appearances. Considering Nadal is enjoying retirement, Tsitsipas has time to come even closer to Nadal when clay is involved.
This year's Monte-Carlo event may be over for Tsitsipas, but he has much more tennis to play this season, and the clay-court season has only just begun. If Tsitsipas wants to regain his lost points and rankings, now is the time.