By Tennis Now | Monday, April 10, 2023
Alex de Minaur dismissed Andy Murray 6-1, 6-3 and Francisco Cerundolo surprised 11th-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters today.
Photo credit: Getty
Andy Murray returned to Monte-Carlo for the first time in six years.
Alex de Minaur showed the former world No. 1 the door in less than 90 minutes.
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The 14th-seeded de Minaur played dirt demon dismissing Murray 6-1, 6-3 in an 86-minute Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters opener.
De Minaur, who captured his seventh title in Acapulco last month, broke serve four times and won 15 of 24 points played on Murray's second serve.
It was de Minaur's third win in as many meetings over Murray and snaps a run of opening-round losses in both Indian Wells and Miami.
The 19th-ranked de Minaur will face Jan-Lennard Struff in round two.
German qualifier Struff swept Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-3.
Former Miami Open semifinalist Francisco Cerundolo upset 11th-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4. Rio de Janeiro champion Norrie carried an ATP-best 10-1 clay-court record into today's match.
Cerundolo moves on to a second-round meeting with Matteo Berrettini.
Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini exploited 14 double faults from Maxime Cressy in a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Stan Wawrinka required six match points to finally subdue Tallon Griekspoor 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in his Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters opener.
At age 38, Wawrinka is the oldest man in the Monte-Carlo field.
The 2014 Monte-Carlo champion will play for a spot in his fourth consecutive round of 16 when he faces fourth-seeded Taylor Fritz next.
"It's going to be a tough match. He's a top-10 player," Wawrinka said of Fritz. "He's of the younger generation. He won many matches during the past two years. He improved a lot. He's dangerous on any surface.
"Even if he didn't grow up on clay, he's very dangerous on this surface. And here the conditions are quite fast and the balls are fast, so it's going to be a good challenge, and I hope I will be able to play my game."