Former finalist Holger Rune gets his ATP Monte Carlo Masters campaign underway on Tuesday. The Dane faces a potentially tricky opening match against Portugal’s No. 1 player, Nuno Borges. We also predict the rest of Day 3 matches in separate articles, but who will advance?
ATP Monte Carlo Day 3 Predictions
Lorenzo Sonego vs Pedro Martinez
Head-to-head: first meeting
Italian players tend to draw huge crowd support in Monte Carlo. Sonego will certainly be getting a rapturous welcome as one of three Italians in action on Tuesday. Martinez can quieten the fans with his patient point construction and baseline solidity. He’s a nightmare to play against when he gets almost every ball back in play. The Spaniard might win this, provided he has recovered from his recent injury.
Prediction: Martinez in 3
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Bautista Agut 1-0 Nakashima
Nakashima is still a player finding his footing on clay. He is coming off a semifinal run in Houston. He’s never played in Monte Carlo before, so this will be a strange but exciting experience for him. Bautista Agut was one of the most feared players on this surface. However, at 36, having lost some yards of pace, he is no longer a massive threat. Nakashima might have enough in his arsenal to knock off the veteran, but this will be close.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
Tomas Machac vs Sebastian Baez
Head-to-head: first meeting
Machac will be playing for the first time since withdrawing from Miami. Although Machac’s talent is undeniable, you are never sure about his fitness. Baez, by contrast, is as fit as a fiddle with an excellent fitness record. His preparation for Monte Carlo was near perfect (he finished as the runner-up in Bucharest). The Argentinian is a tireless worker from the baseline who will maximize on his physical gifts to push Machac to his limits. If the Czech drops his level, he will be in trouble.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Holger Rune vs Nuno Borges
Head-to-head: Rune 2-0 Borges
Both players have played on clay this season. Rune took part in the Golden Swing but endured an ill-fated campaign in South America, competing in just one tournament. Borges is coming off a quarterfinal showing in Marrakech. Naturally, Rune will start as the favorite, given his recent good record in Monte Carlo. Borges lacks the athleticism to outplay the Dane in these slow, windy conditions.
Prediction: Rune in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
