The second round of the first clay ‘Masters 1000’ tournament of 2026 in Monte Carlo continues on Wednesday. This tournament marks a crucial adjustment period for professional tennis players transitioning from North American hardcourts to European clay. A player showing strong form on hardcourts might find it challenging against a seasoned opponent well-adapted to the new conditions. Let’s delve into some of the most intriguing second-round matches scheduled for Wednesday.
Daniil Medvedev vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-Head: 3-0 in favor of Medvedev.
Daniil Medvedev has been showcasing form reminiscent of his prime years when he was a consistent ATP top-5 player and a serious contender for major titles. This year, he has already won the Dubai tournament and reached the final in Indian Wells, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. Thanks to his busy match schedule, Medvedev did not require a warm-up tournament before Monte Carlo. Matteo Berrettini did participate in a preparatory event in Marrakech but did not make a deep run. The Italian, whose career has often been interrupted by injuries, is striving to regain his previous form.
Prediction:
Despite Medvedev’s recent impressive winning streak, which positions him as a clear favorite, it’s worth noting that he thrived in North America under predominantly warm and sunny conditions. The weather in Monte Carlo this week has been quite different. In these circumstances, Medvedev might struggle to find his usual rhythm from the baseline. Berrettini could potentially draw him into a longer match. Therefore, betting on Over 21.5 games appears justified.
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Marin Cilic
Head-to-Head: 3-3.
Felix Auger-Aliassime arrives in Monte Carlo after securing a few wins in Indian Wells and just one victory in Miami. He has won his last three encounters against Marin Cilic, but all those matches were played on hardcourts. This clash will take place on clay, which could significantly alter the match dynamics for both players. Marin Cilic, despite it being over a decade since his 2014 US Open major championship, is still actively competing. He has nothing to lose and could emerge as a dangerous underdog.
Prediction:
A game spread bet is advisable here. Felix might win, but a 7-6, 6-4 scoreline is highly possible. This implies that Cilic would keep the match close in terms of total games won. One could bet on the match going to three sets (Cilic +1.5 sets), but with at least one tie-breaker in the match, Cilic can cover a modest game spread even if it doesn’t reach a third set. This is why a game-based bet is preferable to a set-based bet. Therefore, betting on Cilic keeping the match competitive is well-justified.
Jiri Lehecka vs Alejandro Tabilo
Head-to-Head: 2-0 in favor of Lehecka.
Jiri Lehecka has been playing excellent tennis, reaching the Miami final where he was defeated by the dominant world No. 2 Jannik Sinner. Lehecka has climbed into the top 15 and aims to accumulate enough ranking points to potentially be a top-eight seed at the French Open or Wimbledon later this year. Alejandro Tabilo won a couple of matches in Miami. Some tennis fans might be surprised that he is ranked within the top 40, at No. 39. This is a potentially very intriguing second-round matchup.
Prediction:
Lehecka is playing well, but Tabilo is a quality opponent. Lehecka played a lot of tennis on his way to the Miami final and needed three sets to win his first-round match in Monte Carlo. Lehecka might be susceptible to a letdown or a sluggish match due to fatigue. Tabilo is a good player who can capitalize on this situation. He can wear down Lehecka and at least keep the match extremely close, even if he doesn’t win it outright. Therefore, betting on Tabilo covering the spread is justified.
Andrey Rublev vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-Head: 1-1.
Andrey Rublev and Zizou Bergs both failed to achieve significant results in Indian Wells or Miami in March. They arrived in Monte Carlo in April seeking a fresh start to their 2026 tennis seasons. Both players are hoping for a change of scenery as the European clay swing begins, adding intrigue to this second-round match. Rublev secured a challenging three-set victory over Nuno Borges, exchanging 6-1 sets. Bergs confidently defeated Adrian Mannarino in straight sets.
Prediction:
One of the often-overlooked and peculiar aspects of Andrey Rublev’s inconsistent and sometimes puzzling career is that Monte Carlo is actually a place where he has traditionally performed well. He was a finalist here in 2021 and won the title in 2023, which was one of his two ATP Tour Masters 1000 victories. Rublev’s strong performance in Monte Carlo can generally be trusted against non-elite players. If Rublev wins the first set, he will likely secure a straightforward victory in this match. He possesses a more powerful game than Bergs and can impose his will in this second-round encounter. Therefore, betting on Rublev to win 2:0 in sets is justified.
