 "Monte Carlo Masters: French Open finalist Casper Ruud upset by qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff")
Monte Carlo: French Open finalist Casper Ruud bowed out of the Monte Carlos Masters on Thursday suffering a 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) third-round defeat to German Jan-Lennard Struff who has beaten the Norwegian on all three occasions they have met. The 100th-ranked Struff — who came through the qualifiers — will play the winner of the all-Russian battle between Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals. Ruud was on a run of nine successive victories on clay — having won in Gstaad last July and then Estoril last Sunday — but he looked out of sorts in Monaco. The world number four — who also reached the US Open final last year — saved two match points and battled back from 5-2 down to lead 6-5 in the second set but Struff levelled. The German then took a hard-fought tie-break — Ruud saving a third match point — when the Norwegian sent a return out to reach the last eight.
The Struff dreams are made of 🇩🇪
— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 13, 2023
Jan-Lennard Struff shocks Casper Ruud 6-1 7-6 to make the quarters!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/mW3GZsIe2T
Ruud was not the only Grand Slam-losing finalist to exit in the last 16. Matteo Berrettini, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 Wimbledon final, withdrew due to a muscular problem the Italian suffered in Wednesday’s three-set marathon win over Francisco Cerundolo. Berrettini’s withdrawal allowed Denmark’s ninth-ranked Holger Rune to move into the last eight of the tournament for the first time.
Get well soon 🙏@MattBerrettini has withdrawn ahead of his 3rd round match with an oblique injury pic.twitter.com/u3j5RtWQV8
— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 13, 2023
The 19-year-old will face the winner of the match between in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev and Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who is still battling back to form after a long absence due to tearing ankle ligaments in the French Open semi-finals last year against Rafael Nadal. Berrettini’s compatriot Jannik Sinner enjoyed better fortune saving a match point before beating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1. The 21-year-old Sinner is likely to face Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, who plays another Italian, 16th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti later on Thursday. “I needed such a match,” said Sinner. “I am now into the rhythm. “I am not yet at my best level but each day I am making progress.” Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
