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Off to a slow 2025 start that has seen him fall out of the Top 10 in the world rankings, Daniil Medvedev secured a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win Monday over fellow Russian Karen Khachanov in opening-round play of the Monte-Carlo Masters in Monaco.

Both players had ample chances to win points on the other’s serve, but neither took full advantage. Medvedev, the No. 9 seed, converted nine of 20 break chances, while Khachanov cashed in on eight of 16.

Medvedev could have closed out the match early, up a set and 4-1 in the second, but Khachanov peeled off five straight wins to snatch the set and tie the match.

But it was the service breaks that ultimately derailed Khachanov. Serving down 5-4 in the final set, Khachanov lost serve, handing Medvedev the match.

Medvedev, whose service was broken three times in the third set, pulled off four service breaks in the same stanza of the two-hour, 51-minute match. He also had to fight through cramps.

“I practiced very well before the tournament, better than I played today, though I played well. It’s the first match on clay — it’s not my favorite surface — so some important points and some shot decisions were not good enough,” Medvedev said. “But I’m happy to win. I watched the matches today on clay and there were a lot of breaks; all of them were up and down. I don’t think Karen hit one ace and he’s a big server. So, it was pretty slow, but I’m happy with my level in general and looking forward.”

Medvedev is seeking his first victory since 2023, when he won the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome on the clay courts. To advance, he’ll need to defeat Alexandre Muller after the Frenchman beat qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina 6-4, 6-4.

Ben Shelton, the No. 11 seed, was knocked out by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1. The Spaniard hasn’t won since 2022 but reached finals in Delray Beach and Acapulco this season.

Also moving to the second round was Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who defeated Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4, 6-4 in one hour, 48 minutes. His next opponent will be No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany. In their most recent meeting, on the grass courts in Wimbledon in 2023, Berrettini came out on top.

Another Italian, No. 13 seed Lorenzo Musetti, defeated China’s Yunchaokete Bu 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to set up a second-round match with Czech Jiri Lehecka, who took out Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6 (7).

Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No. 16 seed, fell to qualifier Daniel Altmaier of Germany, who posted a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win.

Chilean Alejandro Tabilo came from behind to defeat former Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 to set up a meeting with Serbian great Novak Djokovic, the No. 3 seed.

–Field Level Media