Monte-Carlo
Blockx, Fonseca earn clutch debut wins in Monte-Carlo
Cerundolo downs three-time champ Tsitsipas; Rublev, Vacherot among Day 2 winners
April 06, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Alexander Blockx defeats Denis Shapovalov in three sets on Monday in Monte-Carlo.
By ATP Staff
Alexander Blockx and Joao Fonseca both enjoyed impressive debut outings at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Monday afternoon, despite earning contrasting victories.
The 20-year-old Blockx held his nerve for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over the former World No. 10 Denis Shapovalov to reach the second round of the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event. The Belgian qualifier rallied from a 0/40 hole when serving for the match at 5-3 in the final set, saving four break points in that game — including a leaping backhand winner on the fourth — to seal victory after one hour, 46 minutes.
Blockx recorded his maiden ATP Tour win in Cincinnati last year before sealing his spot at the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals, where he fell to Learner Tien in the final. The 6’4” powerhouse, who made his Top 100 debut this January, will next meet 10th seed Flavio Cobolli in Monte-Carlo.
Fonseca also came up clutch in his first outing in the Principality on Monday. The 19-year-old Brazilian won five consecutive games from 1-3 in the second set to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 6-3 and advance to the second round.
After dealing with an injury and lack of rhythm at the start of the season, Fonseca displayed some of his best tennis in Indian Wells and Miami, where he competed against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in consecutive tournaments. The No. 40 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will continue his Monte-Carlo quest against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who upset Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2.
“I’m very hyped to get my first win here,” Fonseca said after his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Diallo. “Clay is a surface that I like a lot. I’m working a lot on my physique. I’m happy that I’m feeling great again, feeling healthy, and back with the rhythm.”
Watch Extended Highlights of Day 2 action in Monte-Carlo:
In other action on Day 2 in the Principality, Francisco Cerundolo defeated three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-4. The Greek threatened a comeback after reeling off four games from 0-4 down in the second set, but the 16th-seeded Cerundolo held firm to book a meeting with Tomas Machac.
Czechs Machac and Jiri Lehecka both earned three-set wins on Tuesday. Machac fought past Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, while Miami finalist Lehecka downed qualifier Emilio Nava 7-6(1), 6-7(8), 6-2 after three hours, two minutes.
Andrey Rublev, who won his maiden Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo in 2024, opened his bid to reclaim the trophy with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Nuno Borges. He will meet Zizou Bergs, who downed Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3.
Valentin Vacherot closed out action on Court Rainier III by igniting his home crowd with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Monegasque can now look ahead to a meeting fourth seed and last year’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti.
