The ATP Monte Carlo Masters, the first Masters 1000 of the clay season kicks off today in picturesque Monaco with four main draw matches. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win on opening day?
ATP Monte Carlo Day 1 Predictions
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: first meeting
The Spaniard comes into this match a heavy favorite despite his poor form this season. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is very strong on clay, especially when compared with the relatively inexperienced Marco Giron on the surface. The 22-year-old is also defending a quarterfinal from last year when he took out Matteo Berrettini. The American is making his debut in Monaco. I will be surprised if it will not be Davidovich Fokina winning this match and moving on to face Novak Djokovic in the next round.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 2
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Dusan Lajovic vs Filip Krajinovic
Head-to-head: Krajinovic 2-1 Lajovic
To start us off on Sunday, we get our fourth iteration of this Serbian derby. Interestingly enough, their first two meetings in 2014 and 2015 ended in retirements, so their first full match was only played last month in Indian Wells. Filip Krajinovic came out on top in that one, taking it 6-1 in the third. Dusan Lajovic has an interesting record in Monte Carlo, reaching his only Masters 1000 final here in 2019 but never advancing past the first round in any of his other visits to the tournament. Krajinovic is defending a third-round run here from last year. It’s a very tight match to call, but Lajovic might just be able to recapture his Monte Carlo magic.
Prediction: Lajovic in 3
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Marton Fucsovics vs Lloyd Harris
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 2-2 Harris
This the fifth meeting between these main tour regulars, but the first one not on a hard court. Marton Fucsovics won their most recent meeting earlier in the year in Doha. The Hungarian is a stronger clay-courter with his superior court coverage and consistency from the baseline. In fact, he won his only ATP title on the surface. Lloyd Harris, by way of contrast, lacks any real successes on the main tour on this surface. Expect Fucsovics to be victorious here as a result.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 2
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Grigor Dimitrov vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 1-0 Basilashvili
The most exciting match of the day with two players who could hardly have more different records in Monte Carlo. In eight main draw appearances, Grigor Dimitrov has never lost in the first round here, reaching the semifinals once and quarterfinals twice. On the other hand, Nikoloz Basilashvili has never made the second round here in Monaco. Dimitrov’s form is a mixed bag while Basilashvili hasn’t won a single match outside of his run to the Doha final. The Bulgarian also won their only previous meeting in Sofia 2017. Expect him to win again here.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
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