Casper Ruud's pursuit of a Monte-Carlo Masters title came to an unexpected halt as he was forced to retire from his match due to a calf injury. This unfortunate turn of events granted world No 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime a walkover to the quarter-finals, leaving Ruud unable to progress further in the tournament.
After a tight battle in the first set, Ruud managed to level the match, but his right leg discomfort became unbearable, forcing him to withdraw from the match at 2-2 in the second set. This injury raises concerns about Ruud's fitness leading into the upcoming clay-court swing, including tournaments in Madrid and Rome, and the Roland Garros Grand Slam.
Auger-Aliassime, benefitting from Ruud's retirement, advances to the quarter-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 for the first time in his career. He is set to face world No 2 Jannik Sinner in the next round, with previous head-to-head matchups favoring Sinner 4 to 2.
