Christian Garin beat Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, achieving three straight wins for the first time in five months. The Chilean now faces German Alexander Zverev, world number 3, on Wednesday not before 6:10 a.m. Chile time. Garin leads their head-to-head 2-1.
Christian Garin (109th) defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi (107th) 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes on Monday in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters. Including two qualifying wins, he strung together three consecutive victories, the first in five months following his father's death. This boosts him to 82nd in the live rankings.
Alexander Zverev (3rd), 28 years old with 24 ATP titles, leads the tour behind only Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In 2026, he has 15 wins from 20 matches, averaging 14.9% aces per match. Yet, he has not reached finals in major events: semifinals at Australian Open (lost to Alcaraz in five sets), second round in Acapulco, and semifinals at Indian Wells and Miami (beaten by Sinner both times).
Garin leads their head-to-head 2-1: win in Munich quarterfinals, loss in Rome 2022, and 6-4, 6-4 victory in Munich 2024. Garin also beat him in the 2013 junior Roland Garros final. Boris Becker said of Zverev's lack of a Grand Slam: “He has played many finals, this year is another opportunity”.
The match airs on ESPN 2 and Disney+ Premium (Premium plan). It is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, not before 6:10 a.m. Chile time.
