The final four are set for the first clay Masters event of the season. One man stands head and shoulders above the rest as a favourite, but write off the other three at your peril.
Monte Carlo Masters Semifinal Predictions
Daniil Medvedev vs Dusan Lajovic
Not many people would have picked this to be a semifinal when the draw originally came out. Medvedev – who has dramatically improved on clay – wore down World #1 Novak Djokovic to progress to this stage. Before this season, the Russian had just two career wins on the dirt. On the other side of the net, Dusan Lajovic has won four matches in a row for the first time in his career to reach his maiden Masters semifinal.
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The pair have played just once before, on the very different indoor hard courts of Moscow. Medvedev dominated in that affair, but I think the 22-year-old will have to work much harder to get the better of the Serb this time around. He’ll do it, though–it will just be tougher.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Fabio Fognini vs Rafael Nadal
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Two of the finest clay court players in tennis will duel once again for a spot in the Monte Carlo final. Fognini has had to work hard to reach the last four, beating players like Alexander Zverev and Borna Coric along the way. Nadal, on the other hand, has been his usual destructive self on the dirt. The Spaniard had his work cut out for him early against Guido Pella in the quarterfinals before coming through in straights. Fognini is one of just seven players to have multiple clay victories over Nadal. That being said, the Spaniard has scored six wins over the Italian on the surface and it looks likely that we will see number seven. Don’t be surprised if the Italian can keep it close, though.
Prediction: Nadal in 2
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