Felix Auger-Aliassime clinched a commanding victory over Luca Nardi in the opening round of the Monte Carlo Masters, setting up an intriguing clash with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz. Despite residing and training in Monte Carlo, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged that the tournament hasn't been his most successful, making this triumph a promising start to his campaign.
With a record of 3-2 in their previous encounters, Auger-Aliassime holds a slight edge over Alcaraz, although this will be their first meeting on clay, adding an element of unpredictability to their upcoming match. Meanwhile, Alcaraz, who received a bye in the first round, appeared to be dealing with physical issues as he was seen practicing with limited forehands and wearing a bandage on his right forearm.
While Alcaraz's preparations seemed hampered, Grigor Dimitrov secured his spot in the second round with a convincing win over Valentin Vacherot. The victory sets up a challenging encounter for Dimitrov against either Matteo Berrettini or Miomir Kecmanovic, with Berrettini coming off a title win at the Marrakesh tournament, marking his return to the winner's circle after nearly two years.
As the Monte Carlo Masters progresses, the matchups promise to intensify, with players like Auger-Aliassime, Alcaraz, Dimitrov, and Berrettini vying for supremacy on the clay courts.
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