Juan Monaco has become the latest seed to safely advance into the French Open second round after beating Guillaume Rufin 6-2 2-6 6-2 7-6[3].
The Argentina professional started off brightly in Paris, commanding the clay court with a number of impressive backhand shots, while Rufin struggled to impose his own style of play on the clash.
Monaco, considered a clay-court specialist, clinched the opening set comfortably but the tables turned in the second as his 22-year-old opponent began to find his stride and control the court.
It was a complete turnaround as Rufin snatched the second set to equalise the scoreline and leave the third set up for grabs.
Monaco was able to launch through the third set, taking every advantage that came his way in a bid to warn off Rufin, who failed to find a breakthrough.
Despite Monaco's two-set-to-one lead, the fourth set was a tense affair as both tried to push for victory. While Rufin looked likely to take it into a fifth and final set, the Frenchman began to stumble and allow Monaco to take it to 5-5 in the fourth.
Thirteenth seed Monaco took this momentum into the tie-break, which he won 7-3 to book his place in the next round.
Danielle Joynson
