Stefanos Tsitsipas has become the latest surprise exit at the Monte Carlo Masters, having lost to Lorenzo Musetti.
Tsitsipas has won the Monte Carlo Masters in three of the last four seasons, and was the sixth seed this time around.
ATP Tour number eight Tsitsipas emulated Rafael Nadal in Monaco, but has now fallen at the quarter-final stage.
The Greek star has already been looking ahead to the near future, with Tsitsipas hiring Goran Ivanisevic as his new coach.
Boris Becker has approved of Tsitsipas appointing Ivanisevic, although the duo will not link-up until after the French Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas missed forehands he never misses in Monte Carlo Masters exit
The 26-year-old has, however, first analysed his latest match, in which he lost 6-1, 3-6, 4-6 to 13th seed Musetti.
“The serve definitely was the thing that kind of was missing, but also, it didn’t help me when I needed it,” Tsitsipas said post-match.
READ MORE: Tennis fans are all in agreement after Stefanos Tsitsipas announces that Goran Ivanisevic will be his new coach
“I was playing with a second serve. The entire second and third set, I was playing with just one serve. I just feel like I could have done way more today.
I missed forehands I never miss. I was actually quite surprised to see those forehands go out or to the net.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas left heartbroken after Monte Carlo Masters exit
Tsitsipas was in with a superb chance of more success on the clay courts in Monaco, even with Carlos Alcaraz still in contention.
The former has proven himself to be a formidable force at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament over recent years.
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And he looked dangerous at the Monte Carlo Masters once more, having knocked out both Jordan Thompson and Nuno Borges.
But Musetti has moved on instead, with the Italian now taking on another top talent on clay in Alex de Minaur.
| Lorenzo Musetti | Stat | Stefanos Tsitsipas |
| 3/6 (50%) | Break Points Converted | 3/17 (18%) |
| 14/42 (33%) | 1st Serve Return Points Won | 28/75 (37%) |
| 20/43 (47%) | 2nd Serve Return Points Won | 12/27 (44%) |
| 15/27 (56%) | 2nd Serve Points Won | 23/43 (53%) |
| 21 | Winners | 25 |
| 75/102 (74%) | First serve | 42/85 (49%) |
| 14/17 (82%) | Break Points Saved | 3/6 (50%) |
De Minaur is on a high after his double bagel win over Grigor Dimitrov, with Tsitsipas currently at the other end of the emotional spectrum.
“It’s difficult to accept,” he said. “I mean, feeling so confident playing on this court and not being able to win a match that I felt I kind of had every reason to try and win is definitely heartbreaking.”
