ATP roundup: Humbert powers back to advance in Monte Carlo, Khachanov survives Norrie battle

Ugo Humbert rallied from a set down to defeat Federico Coria 4-6 6-1 6-2 and advance to the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Monday, joining Grigor Dimitrov, Karen Khachanov, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Humbert was knocked out in the first round last year by Italian wildcard Lorenzo Sonego, and after losing the first set to Argentine Coria, the French 14th seed appeared in trouble again.

Despite the setback, the 25-year-old went on to win the next two sets, breaking Coria's serve twice each.

Karen Khachanov was also put to the test before defeating Briton Cameron Norrie 7-5 7-6(3). The Russian 15th seed saw his serve broken twice in the first set and was forced to a tiebreak in the second.

Norrie broke serve twice more in the second set and had two break points at 6-5 to win the set, but Khachanov responded with three consecutive aces to hold serve and another two aces to easily win the tiebreak.

Khachanov will face Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in the second round.

Grigor Dimitrov, the ninth seed from Bulgaria who recently lost to Jannik Sinner in the Miami Open final, defeated local wildcard Valentin Vacherot 7-5 6-2 in the first round.

Dimitrov, who won his first ATP title in over six years at the Brisbane International in January, was tested in the first set when Vacherot broke serve in the first game, but he found his groove and cruised to victory in the second set.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, a two-time Monte Carlo champion, also advanced to the second round after his opponent Laslo Djere retired injured in the second set. Tsitsipas won the first set 6-3 and was leading 3-2 when the Serb announced his withdrawal.

The top eight seeds received byes into the second round, and world number one Novak Djokovic will face Russia's Roman Safiullin on Tuesday.

SportsLigue