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Monte Carlo Masters
The expected and the unexpected basically joined forces in the first clay Masters. #5 Jochen Weigle and #8 Solitris Papadias both lost their first match of the tournament, in the second round. This created a path for (15) Alketas Albanos and un-seeded Santino Consiglio - haven't mentioned his name in a while but he won a close three-set match over Weigle - to make the quarterfinals. Four Spanairds made the round of 16, but all of them went no further, including Bardales.
That meant three of the final eight were unexpected to some degree. Johann Przalowik was offered up to be smashed by Faille, Albanos gave Cananis a tough two-set battle before losing, and Consiglio actually took a set from Polychroniadis before order was restored there. The only 'yep, they were supposed to be here' match was between Xanthos and Oleg Urazov, a match in which only six points separated the players. Tight one, won eventually by the Cypriot 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Which brings us to the expected part. Top four players in the semis, and Ben Faille eliminated Renke Cananis 7-6(4), 6-1 in a match that would feature his only competitive set of the tournament. Themis Xanthos was dismissed routinely by Leon Polychroniadis, but Faille cruised past him in the final to restore order and announce that he's not going anywhere long-term. Just had a bit of a hiccup there a few weeks ago.
We'll have to see if Weigle or the Spanish contingent has any more to say in the rest of the clay season.
Elsewhere ...
Aparna Chandrasekharan continues to tread water more or less, making the second round of a FT3 in Spain. Girish Raychaudhari lost a three-set final at JG4 Ostrava, marking his first defeat of the year.
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