Britain's Cameron Norrie ended his five-year winless streak at the Monte Carlo Masters with a hard-fought three-set triumph over Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.
Norrie, who hadn't won a match at the prestigious clay-court tournament since 2019, secured a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(0) victory in a rollercoaster opening-round encounter that lasted over two hours.
The 30-year-old started strongly, dictating play with his consistent groundstrokes to claim the opening set comfortably. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set as Kecmanovic found his rhythm, breaking Norrie's serve three times to level the match.
"It was a real battle out there," Norrie said after the match. "I had to dig deep after letting the second set slip away. The conditions were challenging, but I'm pleased with how I responded in the tie-break."
The deciding set featured dramatic swings, with Norrie serving for the match at 5-4 only to be broken by the determined Serbian. But when it mattered most in the tie-break, the British number one produced flawless tennis, winning all seven points to seal the victory.
Norrie's win marks an important start to his clay-court season and sets up an intriguing second-round clash with Australian world number six Alex de Minaur. The two last met just last month in Indian Wells, where Norrie emerged victorious en route to the quarter-finals.
The victory also solidifies Norrie's position as Britain's top-ranked player, having recently overtaken compatriot Jack Draper in the ATP rankings. His improved performance on clay will be crucial as the tour moves toward the French Open next month.