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By Ricky Dimon
Rafael Nadal could also be sidelined for the start of the clay-court swing, however there’s nonetheless loads of intrigue for the Monte-Carlo Masters. A lot of that has to do with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, who occur to be in the identical quarter of the draw. Djokovic is enjoying in simply his second match of the season, whereas Alcaraz is hoping to construct on his unimaginable begin to the 2022 marketing campaign.
Though that is the one Masters 1000 occasion that isn’t required for the highest gamers on the planet, it boasts a robust area even past Djokovic and Alcaraz. Rounding out the highest eight seeds are Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Cameron Norrie.
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
The place: Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Prize cash: 5,415,410 Euros
High seed: Novak Djokovic
Defending champion: Stefanos Tsitsipas
With Djokovic and Alcaraz within the high half—and even high quarter—that’s clearly the place no person else desires to be. Tennis followers are already salivating over that potential quarterfinal contest, however neither participant has the simplest path to make it that far. Djokovic may meet Roberto Bautista Agut in spherical three, whereas Alcaraz awaits both Sebastian Korda or Botic Van de Zandschulp in his opener earlier than presumably going through Taylor Fritz. Alcaraz and Ruud are on a collision course for the semis in what could be a rematch of the Miami last (received by the Spaniard in straight units). The Norwegian is in a good part of the Monte-Carlo bracket, as neither Norrie nor Hubert Hurkacz is at his greatest on clay.
On the backside of the draw, the second-seeded Tsitsipas is the defending champion. It’s true that he has struggled since final season’s runner-up efficiency on the French Open, however two of his outcomes undoubtedly would have been higher if not for Alcaraz (U.S. Open final 12 months, Miami two weeks in the past). In a Monte-Carlo part with no seeded gamers in nice kind (the others are Auger-Aliassime, Diego Schwartzman, and Lorenzo Sonego), Tsitsipas is effectively set as much as make one other run within the principality. In the meantime, with Zverev and Rublev not completely on high of their video games the door could possibly be open for Jannik Sinner and Pablo Carreno Busta.
First-round matches to observe embody Korda vs. Van de Zandschulp, Hurkacz vs. Gael Monfils, Sinner vs. Borna Coric, Marin Cilic vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Lorenzo Musetti vs. Benoit Paire, and Alexander Bublik vs. Stan Wawrinka.
First-round upset probability: Gael Monfils over (11) Hubert Hurkacz. You by no means know what you will get from Monfils, however on this floor—Hurkacz’s worst—the Frenchman may have probability if he performs anyplace near his greatest tennis.
Second-round upset probability: Lorenzo Musetti over (6) Felix Auger-Aliassime. Auger-Aliassime didn’t win a single match in Indian Wells and Miami earlier than shedding his opener this previous week in Marrakech. Musetti is rounding again into kind in the mean time and now finds himself on his favourite floor.
Quarterfinal picks: Novak Djokovic over Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud over Cameron Norrie, Stefanos Tsitsipas over Lorenzo Musetti, and Jannik Sinner over Pablo Carreno Busta
Semifinals: Djokovic over Ruud and Tsitsipas over Sinner
Closing: Djokovic over Tsitsipas
Ricky contributes to10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You’ll be able to comply with him on twitter at @Dimonator.
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