On a sun-drenched afternoon in Monte Carlo, the clay courts of the prestigious Monte Carlo Masters bore witness to a masterful display of tennis prowess on April 10, 2025. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek sensation and defending champion, delivered a performance that left spectators in awe, dismantling Portugal’s Nuno Borges with a resounding 6-1, 6-1 victory in the Round of 16. The match, which lasted a mere 67 minutes, underscored Tsitsipas’s enduring dominance at this iconic tournament and propelled him into the quarterfinals, where he continues his quest for a fourth title in five years.
The atmosphere at the Monte Carlo Country Club was electric as Tsitsipas stepped onto the court, his confidence palpable. The 26-year-old, ranked No. 8 in the world, has long been a clay-court maestro, and this match was a testament to his mastery. From the opening serve, he seized control, blending powerful forehands with pinpoint accuracy to keep Borges on the defensive. The Portuguese player, ranked No. 43, had shown promise earlier in the tournament with a gritty three-set win over Pedro Martinez, but against Tsitsipas, he found himself outmatched. “Most games were really close,” Tsitsipas reflected afterward, his humility shining through despite the lopsided scoreline. “I felt most of the games were ending at the 40/30 score, there was a lot of action. I don’t think the score resembles the match. There was a lot more than the score shows.”
Tsitsipas’s journey in Monte Carlo this year began with a shaky start in the second round, where he dropped the first set to Jordan Thompson before rallying to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. That victory seemed to ignite something within him, and by the time he faced Borges, he was in full command. Converting six of seven break-point opportunities, he showcased a clinical edge, while saving five of six break points against his own serve. Borges managed a fleeting moment of resistance, breaking Tsitsipas’s serve once in the second set, only to see the Greek immediately break back and snuff out any hope of a comeback. The crowd roared as Tsitsipas sealed the match, collapsing briefly to the clay in a mix of exhaustion and triumph before rising to embrace his opponent.
This win marks Tsitsipas’s fifth consecutive quarterfinal appearance at Monte Carlo, a feat not accomplished since Rafael Nadal’s legendary run at the event. With a staggering 22-3 record at the tournament, including three titles since 2021, Tsitsipas has made the principality his personal playground. “I handled them much better than I expected,” he said of the tight moments in the match, crediting his ability to stay composed under pressure. His dominance on these courts is no fluke—his single-handed backhand and aggressive baseline play thrive on the slow, red clay, a surface that has historically favored his style.
For Borges, the defeat was a harsh lesson in the gap between solid form and elite brilliance. The 28-year-old had entered the tournament with a 2-0 record, buoyed by a fortunate first-round win when Holger Rune retired mid-match and a hard-fought victory over Martinez. Yet, facing Tsitsipas proved a bridge too far. Despite his lone career title against Nadal in 2024, Borges has yet to crack the Top 10 barrier, and this match highlighted the challenge ahead.
As Tsitsipas advances, the stakes grow higher. His next opponent, Lorenzo Musetti, awaits in the quarterfinals, promising a clash of flair and finesse. With top seeds like Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic already eliminated, the path to a fourth Monte Carlo crown looks tantalizingly open. For Tsitsipas, it’s not just about defending his title—it’s about cementing his legacy as one of the tournament’s all-time greats, second only to Nadal’s 11 triumphs. The Greek star’s love affair with Monte Carlo shows no signs of fading, and as the Mediterranean sun sets over the courts, his fans dare to dream of another championship run.