French Open finalist Casper Ruud bowed out of the Monte Carlos Masters on Thursday suffering a 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) third round defeat to German Jan-Lennard Struff who has beaten the Norwegian on all three occasions they have met.
The 100th-ranked Struff – who came through the qualifiers – will play the winner of the all-Russian battle between Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals.
Ruud was on a run of nine successive victories on clay – having won in Gstaad last July and then Estoril last Sunday – but he looked out of sorts in Monaco.
The world No 4 – who also reached the US Open final last year – saved two match points and battle back from 5-2 down to lead 6-5 in the second set but Struff levelled.
The German then took a hard fought tie-break – Ruud saving a third match point – when the Norwegian sent a return out to reach the last eight.
Ruud was not the only Grand Slam losing finalist to exit in the last 16.
Coming in hot ??
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 13, 2023
World No.100 @Struffitennis takes down Casper Ruud 6-1 7-6(6) to reach his 2nd ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.@ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/TJFEjF936V
Matteo Berrettini, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 Wimbledon final, withdrew due to a muscular problem the Italian suffered in Wednesday's three-set marathon win over Francisco Cerundolo.
Berrettini's withdrawal allowed Denmark's ninth-ranked Holger Rune to move into the last eight of the tournament for the first time.
The 19-year-old will face the winner of the match between in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev and Germany's Alexander Zverev, who is still battling back to form after a long absence due to tearing ankle ligaments in the French Open semifinals last year against Rafael Nadal.
Berrettini's compatriot Jannik Sinner enjoyed better fortune saving a match point before beating Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.
The 21-year-old Sinner is likely to face Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, who plays another Italian, 16th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti later on Thursday.
"I needed such a match," said Sinner.
"I am now into the rhythm.
"I am not yet at my best level but each day I am making progress."