Tuesday at the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters brings the last remaining first-round matches and the start of the second round. World #1 Novak Djokovic has a tricky opening opponent, while the young talents Musetti and Fils collide in what could be a thrilling encounter. Who will emerge on top in this prestigious clay-court event?
Novak Djokovic vs Roman Safiullin
Head to Head: 1-0
Their only meeting on the hard courts of Tel Aviv late 2022 resulted in a 6-1 7-6(3) win for Novak Djokovic. The much decorated serb is still finding his feet after a quiet and poor spring so far including a 3 set loss to Luca Nardi in Indian Wells. He has recently stated that he is not expecting much in Monte Carlo and will try and find his clay legs. Can you ever bet against him though? Roman Safiullin is coming in off the back of a 1st round, straight sets win against Juame Munar which will give him some confidence coming in although clay certainly is not where he has had his best results over the years.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2 tight sets
Lorenzo Musetti vs Arthur Fils
Head to Head: 0-0
Certainly a tough match to call with both men having never played each other and only seperated by 12 places in the ATP rankings – Musetti (24), Fils(36). Big things are expected of the 19 year old Fils and he will only continue to get better from here. He took out Yannick Hanfmann in the 1st round for the loss of just 2 games. Musetti seems at home on the clay with his heavy top spin game and accurate ball striking and took out world number 13 Taylor Fritz in 2 sets in the previous round. Musetti also boasts a last 16 win over Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters adn so maybe his greater clay court experience will see him through in this one.
Prediction: Musetti in 3
Sebastian Korda vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head to Head: 1-0
Another tough one to call with Korda and Davidovich Fokina facing off against one another only once back in Miami in 2022 with the American winning 6-1, 6-1. Both men have an average clay court record with Korda struggling in 2023 with a 1-3 record to Davidovich Fokina’s 2023 clay court record of 9-8. Davidovich Fokina can sometimes be up and down with his emotions getting the better of him from time to time and so maybe the calm, measured nature of Seb Korda can see him through in this one should things get tight and he can hit the spots with his big serve.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Facundo Diaz Acosta
Head to Head: 0-0
I seem to be saying this with every match in this set but again it is a tough one to call. The 2 men have never met on the tour and both have good clay court pedigree with Acosta’s 2024 clay court record sitting at 10-5 matching up against Bautista Agut’s 3-1 record so far for the season. Bautista Agut had two impressive wins in qualifying, defeating first in qualifying – former french open finalist – Dominic Thiem and then italian Lorenzo Sonego. Diaz Acosta did lose in 3 sets against Indian Sumit Nagal but he did record a 2 sets win over the strong clay courter Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
