The fourth day at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters should be the best yet. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all eleven matches on the slate on day four in the Principality, but who will book their place in the third round?
ATP Monte Carlo Day 4 Predictions
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: Auger-Aliassime 2-1 Sonego
Clay has been Felix Auger-Aliassime’s least favourite surface throughout his career. But he started his 2024 season on the dirt very impressively against Luca Nardi in the last round. Lorenzo Sonego is in the second-round as a lucky loser. Yet, the Italian is more than capable on clay when he finds his range, demonstrated by a quarterfinal run at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters in 2019. At his best, Auger-Aliassime’s power will take him to victory but do not be surprised if this is a close match.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
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Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head: first meeting
2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas will probably be relieved to return to the Masters 1000 event he’s won on two occasions. It has been a patchy start to the season for the Greek and he needs to build momentum somewhere. However, this is a very tricky opening match. Tomas Martin Etcheverry plays his best tennis on clay, reaching the quarterfinal at Roland Garros last year. An upset is not impossible if the Argentine strikes his powerful forehand as well as he can. But the conditions in Monte Carlo always suit Tsitsipas’ game perfectly and he should have enough to prevail.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Grigor Dimitrov vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 1-0 Kecmanovic
Grigor Dimitrov has rightly received high praise for his outstanding tennis in the last 12 months. Yet, he will need to better than he was in the opening set against wildcard Valentin Vacherot, where he struggled slightly, to overcome Miomir Kecmanovic. Kecmanovic sent recent Marrakech champion Matteo Berrettini crashing back to earth with a thumping victory in the first-round. Dimitrov’s level for most of the season will be good enough against Kecmanovic. That makes the Bulgarian the favourite but a defeat against an opponent who is a strong clay court player is not out of the question.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 3
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Daniil Medvedev vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-head: Monfils 2-1 Medvedev
Gael Monfils is making a habit of being involved in epic matches in 2024. He did this again in the previous round by recovering from 4-1 down in the third set to beat Aleksandar Vukic 6-7 6-3 7-5. Unfortunately, the former French Open semifinalist does not get a day’s rest after his mammoth effort. That could be what decides this match. It is well-known that Daniil Medvedev is least comfortable on clay, despite his run to the title in Rome last year. But he will still make this match very physical, which might be slightly too much for the almost 38-year-old Monfils to handle after his long first-round battle.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
