After a wet and windy Day 2 at the ATP Masters event, Tuesday’s action in Monte Carlo features a jam-packed schedule that promises to produce some exhilarating matches. We have predictions for three of the matches that headline Day 3. We also predict the other matches of the day, including Roberto Bautista Agut vs Taylor Fritz and Albert Ramos vs Jannik Sinner.
ATP Monte Carlo Day 3 Predictions
Aslan Karatsev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head to Head: Never Played
Aslan Karatsev has lit up the ATP Tour since his semifinal run at the Australian Open. Last month, he won the ATP 500 event in Dubai, including wins over Dan Evans and fellow Russian Andrey Rublev. Although showing signs of fatigue in Miami, Monday Karatsev was back to his best producing a remarkable performance against Lorenzo Musetti. One of the key features of the Russian’s success has been his remarkable return game which has allowed him to put opponent6s under constant pressure. Despite being somewhat unconventional in terms of the positioning of the racket head, Karatsev has been able to neutralise many of his opponents serves, and with him also possessing effortless power on his ground strokes, this is a somewhat lethal combination.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been in a bit of a rut since his run to the semifinals of the Australian Open. The Greek has squandered strong leads in his last two defeats, in the Acapulco final loss against Alexander Zverev and his Miami quarterfinal loss to Hubert Hurkacz. The Greek has undoubtedly got the game to consistently win big titles, however mentally he will need to improve his focus and temperament in the big moments of matches. This will be a fascinating match and it will be interesting to see how the Greek will handle the firepower of the Russian. I think this will go to a deciding set, with the Russian getting the victory.
Prediction: Karatsev in 3
Federico Delbonis vs Adrian Mannarino
Head to Head: 1-0 to Mannarino
Federico Delbonis already has some success on the clay this season, reaching the final of the Chile Open. However, other than that the Argentine is not enjoying the best run of form, losing from a set and a break up in his second-round match last week at the Andalucia Open against Norbert Gombos. Adrian Mannarino enjoyed a good run to the third round of the Australian Open at the start of the year. However, the Frenchman hasn’t won back-to-back matches since then. The pair have played once before, but that was six years ago in Auckland where the Frenchman won for the loss of only two games. I think this will be a close match, with Delbonis possessing the greater weight of shot, but Mannarino being the more consistent of the two players. This could go either way, but I think the Argentine will get the win.
Prediction: Delbonis in 3
Matteo Berrettini vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head to Head: Never Played
Matteo Berrettini produced some incredible tennis at the start of the year, well and truly bouncing back from a relatively quiet 2020 season. The Italian produced an outstanding display of offensive tennis against Dominic Thiem at the ATP Cup in his first match of the year, winning in straight sets to lead Italy to the ATP Cup final. At the Australian Open, Berrettini came through a tough draw. He beat Kevin Anderson, Tomas Machac, and Karen Khachanov en route to the fourth round, where injury forced him to withdraw. Sadly, that prevented a mouthwatering fourth-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. This will be the first time that the Italian has competed since then, and in Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, he faces a tough opening match.
The Spaniard came through a tough opening match against Alex De Minaur in straight sets. He has recorded some impressive wins on the ATP Tour this season, including over Hubert Hurkacz in Montpellier and Roberto Bautista Agut in Rotterdam. All of this on the back of a run to the fourth round of the US Open last year. I think this will be a close match, and I think this will be another match that goes to a deciding set. Ultimately, I think the Italian will get the win.
Prediction: Berrettini in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
Disagree with our ATP Monte Carlo Day 3 Predictions? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
