Zverev Rallies Past Garin, Rublev Bows to Bergs in Monte-Carlo

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Facebook

On a day that saw former champion Andrey Rublev bite the dust, Alexander Zverev showed appetite for the fight making a fierce comeback in Monte-Carlo.

Facing a 0-4 final-set deficit, Zverev reeled off seven of the last eight games rallying past long-time nemesis Cristian Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

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Zverev, who improved to 16-5 on the season, has advanced to ATP Masters 1000 semifinals in five of his last six ATP 1000 appearances.

World No. 47 Zizou Bergs toppled the 2023 champion Rublev 6-4, 6-1 to roll into the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters round of 16 showdown vs. Zverev.

The third-seeded Zverev looked down and out staring down a dire Love-4 deficit in the decider today. Zverev belted five of his eight aces in the final set.

After Garin held for a 5-2 lead, Zverev won eight of the next nine points on serve wrapping a couple of holds around a break to level the set. Zverev broke at love for 6-5 then fought off three break points to seal a grueling two hour, 50-minute triumph. Zverev surpassed the Monte-Carlo opener for the ninth time in 10 tournament appearances.

It came 13 years after Garin defeated Zverev in the Roland Garros boys’ singles final.

Meanwhile, Bergs saved seven of eight break points and hit eight more winners (18 to 10) than the 13th-seeded Rublev.

Three seeds fell from the field today. Matteo Berrettini blasted seventh-seeded Daniil Medvedev, 6-0, 6-0, handing the former world No. 1 the first double-bagel defeat of his career.

Czech Tomas Machac stopped 16th-seeded Argentinean Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2), 6-3, to set up a round of 16 clash vs. world No. 2 Jannik Sinner.