Andrey Rublev gained his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday after beating Holger Rune in a three-set last in Monte Carlo.

Arsenal’s title hopes suffered an enormous blow after the Gunners squandered a two-goal result in be held by West Ham. The draw leaves Arsenal simply 4 factors forward of defending champions Manchester City who’ve performed one sport much less.

La Liga leaders Barcelona dropped factors after being held by Getafe whereas Atletico Madrid continued their successful run after an Antoine Griezmann brace helped them beat Almeria.

Here’s a take a look at the important thing tales from worldwide sporting occasions via the day for 17 April, 2023:

Rublev wins Monte Carlo Masters

Andrey Rublev stated successful his first Masters 1000 trophy in Monte Carlo on Sunday was like a “fairytale” after the Russian battled previous Denmark’s Holger Rune in three units.

The fifth seed got here from 4-1 down within the deciding set to defeat sixth-seeded teenager Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 after one hour 34 minutes on the pink clay of Court Rainier III.

The 25-year-old achieved the most important win of his profession after dropping Masters finals in Monte Carlo and Cincinnati, each in 2021, to spice up his confidence heading into subsequent month’s French Open on clay.

“It’s a great feeling. Today I handled my emotions really well,” stated Rublev.

“After struggling so much, so many times, losing in the finals, semi-finals, losing even earlier, to win first 1000 Masters and finally I did it.

“To win a match like this, losing 4-1, Love-30, breakpoint for 5-1, and to be able to come back and to win is like a fairytale today,” stated the world quantity six, who blasted down 33 winners on the best way to his thirteenth profession title.

Deprived of his nationwide flag after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the participant from Moscow thanked the gang for his or her help.

“Coming from the country where I come from, to receive such international support, it is enormous,” he stated.

Arsenal endure setback

Arsenal blew a two-goal lead for the second sport in a row as Bukayo Saka’s penalty miss proved essential within the Premier League leaders’ damaging 2-2 draw towards West Ham on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s aspect struck twice within the first 10 minutes on the London Stadium because of objectives from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

But simply seven days after squandering a 2-0 benefit of their 2-2 draw at Liverpool, the Gunners once more cracked underneath the strain of the title race.

Said Benrahma’s penalty decreased the deficit for West Ham earlier than the interval and after Saka fired his spot-kick extensive early within the second half, Jarrod Bowen volleyed in an equaliser for the struggling hosts.

It was a hammer blow for Arsenal, who sit 4 factors away from second-placed Manchester City however have ceded the title race momentum to Pep Guardiola’s crew.

City had closed inside three factors of the Gunners after beating Leicester 3-1 on Saturday and it’s the champions who’ve the future of the title of their palms regardless of trailing Arsenal for a lot of the season.

City, who’ve gained their final 10 matches in all competitions, have a sport in hand on Arsenal.

With a house sport towards Arsenal looming on April 26, City know they’ll raise a fifth title in six seasons in the event that they win their remaining eight matches.

By the time Arsenal journey to the Emirates Stadium they are going to be seven factors away from City in the event that they beat bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Friday.

Yet that hole would nonetheless look uncomfortably small to Arsenal followers fearing their crew are within the technique of losing a golden alternative to win a primary title since 2004.

While City are battle-tested in dealing with the stress of the title race, Arsenal’s younger squad look to be struggling an ill-timed assault of nerves.

La Liga leaders Barca drop extra factors

A subdued Barcelona couldn’t break down Getafe in a 0-0 draw on Sunday, dropping extra factors however nonetheless sitting 11 away from Real Madrid on the prime of La Liga.

Third-place Atletico Madrid beat Almeria 2-1 at house with Antoine Griezmann netting a brace as he continued his glowing kind.

Valencia sunk deeper into the relegation mire with a 2-0 house defeat by Sevilla, who host Manchester United within the Europa League on Thursday.

Champions Madrid beat Cadiz on Saturday to chop again Barcelona’s lead, and with 9 video games remaining it appears extremely unlikely they’ll catch Barcelona – however Xavi Hernandez’s aspect are limping over the road.

Barcelona drew 0-0 at house towards Girona on Monday and adopted that up with a second consecutive stalemate, the crew nonetheless wallowing after their Copa del Rey semi-final thrashing by Madrid earlier in April.

The one optimistic for Barca was a twenty second clear sheet of the season within the prime flight, with Getafe, fifteenth, not creating a lot hazard.

Xavi’s aspect are nonetheless agency favourites to raise the title for the primary time since 2019, however ought to they stumble at house towards Atletico subsequent weekend, doubts may creep in.

Atletico stayed two factors behind Real Madrid with a slender win over Almeria, seventeenth, which ought to have been extra snug than it proved to be.

Antoine Griezmann headed Atletico forward within the fifth minute when Angel Correa nodded on a nook to the again publish.

Diego Simeone’s aspect have been dominant all through, however Almeria pulled degree when Leo Baptistao’s shot deflected in off Jose Gimenez.

Griezmann despatched the Rojiblancos forward once more earlier than the break, ending clinically from Yannick Carrasco’s cross on the finish of a wonderful crew transfer for his eleventh league objective.

With textual content inputs from AFP

Updated via the day