Jannik Sinner dropped his first set at Masters level in 186 days but still beat Tomas Machac 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 to reach the Monte Carlo quarter-finals.
The Italian, chasing a first clay Masters crown, will face Felix Auger-Aliassime next and could rise to world number one with the title.
Aryna Sabalenka has pulled out of Stuttgart with injury, ending hopes of a fifth final appearance. Poland’s Magdalena Frech steps in.
