ATP roundup: Defending champion Rublev stunned in Monte Carlo, Sinner cruises through

Andrey Rublev, the defending champion, suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters against Australian player Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, the world number two, comfortably advanced through his initial challenge.

Popyrin secured a break in the third game of the first set, but Rublev responded by breaking back to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. However, the Australian quickly retaliated.

Another break allowed Popyrin to take a 5-4 lead, and he held his serve to advance to the third round for the first time. Rublev, the fifth seed from Russia, had received a bye into the second round.

Popyrin revealed his strategy against Rublev, stating, "I tried to vary the ball to avoid giving him a consistent rhythm.

He is exceptionally strong from the baseline when he finds his groove, so I focused on changing the pace, height, and spin. It worked out well for me today."

In the next round, Popyrin will face his fellow Australian, Alex de Minaur, who defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 as the 11th seed.

Italian player Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, comfortably advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over American Sebastian Korda.

Although Korda had previously defeated Sinner in their last meeting in Adelaide last year, he couldn't match Sinner's current form.

Sinner, who also won the Miami Open and Rotterdam Opens this year, broke Korda in the opening game and maintained control throughout the match. He will now face German Jan-Lennard Struff, whom he defeated at Indian Wells in March.

Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev overcame Gael Monfils with a 6-2, 6-4 victory, but faced a tough challenge from the 37-year-old French player in the second set.

Monfils initially led 4-1, but Medvedev made an impressive comeback, winning five consecutive games to avoid a third set. However, during the match,

Medvedev expressed his frustration with a decision made by chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, even hitting the umbrella over his seat in anger. Lahyani offered to apologize if he was wrong, which only added to Medvedev's annoyance.

Medvedev later apologized to the umpire after the game and provided an explanation for his behavior.

Ugo Humbert, the 14th seed from France, secured a victory over China's Zhizhen Zhang with a score of 6-1, 6-4. He is now set to face Lorenzo Sonego in the third round.

On the other hand, Karen Khachanov from Russia managed to overcome Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina after dropping the first set, eventually winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to progress to the third round.