Day two of the ATP Monte Carlo Masters is set to feature twelve exciting first-round clashes, promising thrilling tennis action for spectators. As is customary, we offer predictions for all scheduled matches, highlighting key encounters such as Andrey Rublev vs. Nuno Borges and Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Francisco Cerundolo. The question remains: which contenders will secure their spot in the next round?
ATP Monte Carlo Day 2 Predictions
Jiri Lehecka vs Emilio Nava
Head-to-head: first meeting
Emilio Nava successfully navigated the qualifying rounds, overcoming David Goffin in a deciding set tiebreaker to secure his spot in the main draw—a notable achievement, marking Goffin’s final appearance at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters. This will be Nava’s debut in a clay Masters main draw, and given his quarterfinal showing on clay earlier this season, he presents a formidable challenge to Jiri Lehecka. While they haven’t met on the ATP Tour, their paths crossed during their junior careers. Lehecka enters the tournament in excellent form, but this marks his inaugural clay match of the season. Consequently, it wouldn’t be entirely unexpected if he drops a set.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Karen Khachanov vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-head: Rinderknech 1-0 Khachanov
Karen Khachanov has displayed flashes of his top-tier tennis at various points this season, yet his hallmark consistency has been elusive. His performance on clay at this level hasn’t been particularly impressive, despite some strong results historically. This encounter will be challenging against a formidable opponent who has previously bested him. Arthur Rinderknech, despite never having secured a win at this event, possesses the skill to challenge any player on his best day and will undoubtedly benefit from robust home crowd support. This match is anticipated to be extremely tight, with Rinderknech potentially gaining the upper hand over the Russian.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 3
Joao Fonseca vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Making his debut at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters, Joao Fonseca is expected to have a strong showing. While his performance during the South American clay swing earlier this season was somewhat underwhelming, he has since built momentum and likely gained invaluable experience from closely contested matches against top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Gabriel Diallo, known for his prowess on faster courts and powerful hitting, can pose a threat even in slower conditions. However, his serve’s effectiveness on clay may be diminished, and his movement could be a vulnerability. These factors should provide Fonseca with a significant advantage.
Prediction: Fonseca in 2
Stan Wawrinka vs Sebastian Baez
Head-to-head: Wawrinka 0-1 Baez
Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, is set for his sixteenth and likely final main draw appearance at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters. While Wawrinka boasts a storied history of success at this venue and his recent form shows improvement compared to previous years, he faces an exceptionally challenging draw. Sebastian Baez, a formidable clay-court specialist, is known for his relentless play and will not yield easy points. He will aim to prolong rallies, pushing Wawrinka’s stamina to its limits. For the Swiss player to triumph, he must adopt an ultra-aggressive baseline strategy and maintain a high first-serve percentage. Though in his prime, Wawrinka would have been heavily favored, he no longer possesses the dominant power he once commanded.
Prediction: Baez in 3
