The sun-soaked clay courts of Monte Carlo, typically a haven for Stefanos Tsitsipas, became the stage for a crushing disappointment in 2025. The Greek star, a three-time champion at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, saw his title defense crumble in the quarterfinals against Lorenzo Musetti, falling 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a grueling two-hour, 21-minute battle. For Tsitsipas, who has long considered the principality’s red dirt his tennis sanctuary, the loss was more than a defeat—it was a personal blow. “Well… yeah… it’s difficult to accept,” he admitted, his voice heavy with emotion. “Feeling so confident playing on this court and not being able to win a match that I felt I kind of had every reason to try and win is definitely heartbreaking.”
Tsitsipas entered the match as the favorite, riding a wave of dominance at Monte Carlo, where he boasts a 22-4 career record. His opening set was a masterclass—crisp forehands, pinpoint serves, and a commanding 6-1 scoreline that suggested another deep run was inevitable. But Musetti, the 23-year-old Italian with a flair for clay, had other plans. After dropping the first set, he adjusted, exploiting Tsitsipas’s faltering serve and erratic groundstrokes. The Greek’s second and third sets unraveled, marked by a staggering 45 unforced errors, including 23 off his usually reliable forehand. “I just feel like I could have done way more today,” Tsitsipas reflected, his frustration palpable. “I missed forehands I never miss. I was actually quite surprised to see those forehands go out or to the net.”
The match’s turning point came in the third set’s seventh game, when a double fault handed Musetti a crucial break at 3-3. Tsitsipas, who made only 49% of his first serves in the final two sets, later pinpointed his delivery as a Achilles’ heel. “The serve definitely was the thing that kind of was missing,” he said, noting he was “playing with just one serve” for much of the match. Musetti, by contrast, was a picture of resilience, saving 14 of 17 break points and weaving delicate drop shots that danced on the clay. For Tsitsipas, who had never lost to Musetti in their five prior meetings, the upset stung deeply, a rare blemish in a tournament where he’s often untouchable.
This defeat carries weight beyond the scoreboard. Tsitsipas, ranked No. 8 entering Monte Carlo, was defending 1,000 points from his 2024 title, a haul that accounted for nearly a third of his ranking total. The quarterfinal exit will see him plummet to No. 16, his lowest position in years, and knock him out of the Top 10 for the first time since 2024. “I was kind of confused, looking deep down, trying to understand what’s happening,” he said, grappling with errors that felt alien. “These things are definitely not normal.” The loss caps a rocky season—despite a Dubai title, early exits in Miami and the Australian Open have left him searching for consistency.
Monte Carlo has always held a special place for Tsitsipas, who claimed his first Masters 1000 title here in 2021, followed by crowns in 2022 and 2024. The court, kissed by Mediterranean breezes, suits his heavy topspin and fluid movement, and his mother’s name on a winner’s plaque at the Monte Carlo Country Club adds a personal layer of pride. This year, he started strong, overcoming Jordan Thompson in a three-setter and dismantling Nuno Borges 6-1, 6-1, a match he felt was deceptively close. “Most games were really close,” he’d said after Borges, hinting at the fine margins that would haunt him against Musetti.
Now, Tsitsipas turns his focus to the Barcelona Open, an ATP 500 event starting April 14, where he’s reached the final four times without a title. The clay season, with its promise of Roland Garros, offers a chance to regroup, but the sting of Monte Carlo lingers. For a player who thrives on confidence, this “heartbreaking” setback is a test of resilience. As he left the press room, his words echoed with resolve: “I just feel like I could have done way more.” With his talent and track record, few doubt he’ll rise again—but for now, the king of Monte Carlo is left to ponder what might have been.