After just three main draw singles matches on Day 1 of the 2023 ATP Monte-Carlo Masters, it’s time to get into a very packed Monday schedule. Stan Wawrinka against Tallon Griekspoor is one of these encounters that instantly caught our eye in the draw. Who do you think will come out on top?
ATP Monte Carlo Day 2 Predictions
Botic van de Zandschulp vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-head: 1-1
Botic van de Zandschulp has had a pretty mediocre season so far and in his only match on clay, he lost a deciding set 0-6 to Christopher O’Connell last week. Marton Fucsovics had to start from the qualifying draw here and performed very well to dispatch Filip Krajinovic and Giulio Zeppieri. In a match that seems pretty even on paper, that added match rhythm, especially on the same courts, could turn out to be a big asset for Fucsovics.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas
Head-to-head: 2-2
Albert Ramos-Vinolas won their only clay meeting ten years ago, but he hasn’t looked his best this year even on his favorite surface. Meanwhile, Jan-Lennard Struff pulled off what was probably the best qualifying campaign out of anyone in the field, eliminating Juan Pablo Varillas and Emil Ruusuvuori. The German returned to the top 100 recently and is simply the player who’s looking a lot livelier at the moment. Of the two veterans, he’s the one who’s been showing some vintage stuff much more often in 2023.
Prediction: Struff in 2
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Filip Krajinovic
Head-to-head: Bautista Agut 1-0
It’s been ten years since their first career meeting in Marseille 2013, and now they get to play again. Roberto Bautista Agut will be trying to snap a losing run that has seen him grab just one win in his last six events. Filip Krajinovic was in similarly poor shape, but maybe has regained some form by winning a match in the qualifying. He then lost to Marton Fucsovics and ended up getting into the event as a lucky loser. They both really need this one and it’s really unclear who’s the one who’ll get it. Bautista Agut has never really enjoyed clay that much, so maybe the Serbian deserves a slight nod in his favor?
Prediction: Krajinovic in 3
Stan Wawrinka vs Tallon Griekspoor
Head-to-head: Griekspoor 1-0
His last three events were definitely the best we’ve seen Stan Wawrinka play since his injury comeback, but he’s still not really a big title contender. Tallon Griekspoor is playing through an ankle injury that he’ll need to have surgery on, although the Dutchman has decided to delay it. How impactful will it be? His level in Marrakech last week was pretty poor, whatever the reason for that was. In very slow conditions, Wawrinka might take this as he’ll have all the time in the world to set up for his strokes and blast the ball.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
