In a stunning twist at the Monte-Carlo Masters, the tennis world witnessed an electrifying upset that reverberated far beyond the sun-drenched clay courts of Monaco. On a crisp April afternoon in 2025, top-seeded Alexander Zverev, ranked No. 2 in the world, found himself on the wrong end of a dramatic three-set battle against Matteo Berrettini, a resurgent Italian powerhouse. The match, which ended with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, not only marked Zverev’s unexpected second-round exit but also sparked a bizarre moment that briefly halted action across the tournament, captivating players, spectators, and fans alike.
The day began with high expectations for Zverev, who had arrived in Monte-Carlo as a favorite, buoyed by a first-round bye and the absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, sidelined by a doping suspension until early May. Fresh off a strong start to the season with a runner-up finish at the Australian Open, the German star seemed primed to capitalize on the clay-court swing. Yet, his form had been faltering since that Melbourne final, with only six wins in twelve matches—a slump that left him vulnerable as he stepped onto Court Rainier III to face Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist known for his punishing groundstrokes and recent clay-court dominance.
The match started predictably enough, with Zverev asserting control in the opening set. His precise serves and aggressive play overwhelmed Berrettini, who later admitted, “I wasn’t feeling my best in the first set especially, and I have to say that Sascha was playing a really high-level tennis.” The crowd, nestled against the picturesque backdrop of the Mediterranean, buzzed with anticipation, expecting the top seed to cruise through. But tennis, as it so often does, had other plans. Berrettini, ranked No. 34 and riding a wave of confidence from a 17-1 clay-court record over the past year, dug deep. A critical break in the sixth game of the second set shifted the momentum, and suddenly, the Italian was back in the fight, leveling the match with a roar of determination.
What followed was a third-set thriller that showcased the raw intensity of elite tennis. The score crept to 3-all when Berrettini broke Zverev’s serve, igniting the crowd. He stood on the brink of victory at 5-4, only for Zverev to claw back, breaking serve with the tenacity of a seasoned champion. The tension peaked in the 11th game, where a jaw-dropping 48-stroke rally unfolded—an epic exchange that ended with Berrettini’s forehand winner screaming past Zverev. “I told myself to be more aggressive,” Berrettini later reflected, a mantra that paid off as he seized another break and, this time, served out the match at 6-5, clinching victory when Zverev’s backhand found the net after two hours and 27 minutes of relentless combat.
The aftermath was where the bizarre took center stage. As Berrettini raised his arms in triumph, soaking in the deafening cheers, the Monte-Carlo crowd erupted with such fervor that the noise spilled across the venue, momentarily freezing play on adjacent courts. Players paused mid-rally, rackets hovering, as the uproar drowned out the usual rhythm of the tournament. It was a surreal interruption, a testament to the electric atmosphere Berrettini’s upset had ignited. For the Italian, it was the biggest win of his career by ranking, his 11th against a top-10 opponent, and a ticket to the third round against either Jiri Lehecka or Lorenzo Musetti.
For Zverev, the loss was another gut punch in a frustrating stretch. “I played a great first set, and once I got broken in the second set I played ten levels down,” he said, his voice heavy with self-criticism. “My ball is much slower. I stop hitting the ball. The same story the last few months. Nothing changes. So it’s me who lost the match, once again.” The defeat extinguished his slim hopes of overtaking Sinner for the No. 1 spot before the Italian’s return, a bitter pill for a player who had started 2025 with such promise.
As the dust settled, Berrettini’s victory stood as a reminder of clay’s unpredictability and the fine margins that define the sport. The Italian, who has claimed titles in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbuhel in recent years, credited his turnaround to a mental shift: “The game plan was the same but I changed my attitude and the way I was believing in my strokes.” Meanwhile, Zverev packed his bags for Munich, his next stop, left to ponder a season that’s slipping through his fingers. The Monte-Carlo Masters, already a crucible of drama, had delivered a moment that would echo through the clay season—a bizarre, thrilling chapter in tennis’s ever-unfolding saga.