Argentine Federico Delbonis will be Rafa Nadal's first rival at the Monte Carlo Masters 1,000. Delbonis, number 87 of the ATP, managed to overcome with less trouble than expected Adrian Mannarino, 34 in the ranking, 7-5 and 6-1 in one hour and 28 minutes.
In the first set both tennis players managed to maintain their serve, with Mannarino putting the Argentine in trouble on several occasions. However it was Delbonis the one who had several occasions to close the sleeve, something he achieved in the twelfth game to the fourth set ball.
In the second the Argentine was an unstoppable roller for Mannarino, who broke the service twice to get 5-0 in favor and finish off with his serve to close the set and the match 6-1 and meet Nadal in the second round.
The current tournament champion, the Italian, did not fail either. Fabio Fognini, who beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in two sets 6-2, 7-5. Despite losing his serve in the first game, Fognini rallied in this first set, breaking Kecmanovic's four serves to win the first set 6-2. In the second Kecmanovic got to take advantage with 3-4 in favor and serve. However, Fognini managed to quickly recover the break and in the twelfth game he broke the Serbian's service to close the match and meet in the second round with Jordan Thompson, executioner of the controversial Benoit Paire.
Pouille reacts and Tsitsipas beats Karatsev
Worse luck had another of the Argentine tennis players who entered the fray today, Guido Pella, who could not with the French Lucas Pouille, who took the match in straight sets 6-3 and 6-4, and it will be seen in the second round with Popyrin or Andújar. The Italian also sealed his ticket to the next round Marco Cecchinato, who beat German Dominik Koepfer in two sets by 6-4, 6-3. Cecchinato will now face Belgian David Goffin.
Stefanos Tsitsipas dispatched the dangerous Aslan Karatsev, whom he faced for the first time, in 84 minutes 6-3, 6-4. Greek, fourth seed, kept the Russian at bay, great revelation of the Australian Open, where he was a semifinalist, and will be measured in the second round with John Millman or Christian Garín. Tsitsipas has reached at least the quarter-finals this year in the five tournaments he has played. Grigor Dimitrov (14th) was not entangled either by the German Struff, whom he beat 6-3 and 6-4 in 77 minutes. and it will be seen with the French Chardy, who beat the Kazakh Bublik (6-4, 0-6 and 7-5).
Results, table and calendar.