Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters when Casper Ruud retired injured during their Round of 16 match. The Canadian won the first set 7-5 before Ruud stopped at 2-2 in the second set due to a calf problem. Auger-Aliassime became the first Canadian to reach the last eight of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
Felix Auger-Aliassime started strongly against Casper Ruud, securing the first set 7-5 in their Round of 16 encounter at the Monte Carlo Masters. Ruud, trailing 2-2 in the second set, retired due to a calf injury, handing Auger-Aliassime the victory and a spot in the quarterfinals. The world No. 7 had led their head-to-head 4-3 entering the match on clay courts in Monaco. Auger-Aliassime called the achievement special after past struggles in Monte Carlo, where he lived since 2019 but held a 2-6 record. 'Monte Carlo has always been the one that has been tough... First time in the quarterfinals so it is a great accomplishment for me,' he said. He had earlier beaten Marin Cilic 7-6, 6-3 in the Round of 32. The Canadian's 2026 season mixed titles and setbacks: he won the Open Occitanie in Montpellier against Adrian Mannarino, reached the Rotterdam final losing to Alex de Minaur, and made the Dubai semifinals before falling to Daniil Medvedev. Early exits followed at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami. Next, Auger-Aliassime faces Jannik Sinner, who leads their head-to-head 4-2 and rides a 14-match win streak after the Sunshine Double. Sinner beat Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-0 and Tomáš Macháč 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 in Monaco.
