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Rublev lifted his 17th tour-level title in Doha in February but struggled to find his best level in recent weeks, losing early in Indian Wells and Miami. 

The seventh seed, who had lost his past five matches at ATP Masters 1000 level prior to the win, has fond memories in Monte-Carlo. In 2023, he defeated Holger Rune in a three-set final to win his maiden Masters 1000 title.

The World No. 9 will next play Frenchman Arthur Fils, who ended Flavio Cobolli’s winning run with an emphatic victory.

Cobolli captured his first ATP Tour title in Bucharest last week but was unable to handle Fils’s power. The No. 15 in the ATP Rankings earned a 6-2, 6-4 win in 71 minutes to book his spot in the third round in Monte-Carlo for the first time. Last month, Fils reached consecutive ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals in Indian Wells and Miami.

In other action in The Principality, Lorenzo Musetti sealed his spot in the third round for a fourth consecutive year by rallying past Jiri Lehecka 1-6, 7-5, 6-2. 

The Italian has had success in Monte-Carlo, having notably beaten Novak Djokovic to reach the 2023 quarter-finals.

Musetti will next face countryman Matteo Berrettini, who is aiming to back up his stunning comeback over top seed Alexander Zverev. 

Former finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina continued his good season with a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory against Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The Spaniard, who struck 29 winners to Etcheverry’s 15, advanced to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final at the clay-court event in 2022, falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Aiming to continue his run this year, he will next face Indian Wells champion Jack Draper.

Davidovich Fokina is 16-8 in 2025, highlighted by runs to the final in Delray Beach and Acapulco.