Crowd favorite Valentin Vacherot made a fantastic comeback in the first round to keep the Monegasque hopes alive at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters, but can he defeat a top-tier clay courter like Lorenzo Musetti? As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate. But which players will advance to the third round?
ATP Monte Carlo Day 4 Predictions
Francisco Cerundolo vs Tomas Machac
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Stefanos Tsitsipas might not be playing at his best these days, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in Monte Carlo, and Francisco Cerundolo made a statement by defeating the Greek in straight sets. Cerundolo has established himself as one of the best players on this surface, and it’s time he made the third round here. Tomas Machac is a formidable opponent, but on clay, Cerundolo has the advantage.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Marin Cilic
Head-to-Head: Auger-Aliassime 1-1 Cilic
#6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime has won just two matches in six appearances at this tournament and will be looking to avoid another early loss. He has been pretty consistent this season, but the level he reached towards the end of last season has faded in recent months, and this might be a good chance for Marin Cilic to add another top 10 triumph to his name. Cilic has played at a high level this season, and I am backing him for the upset.
Prediction: Cilic in 3
Joao Fonseca vs Arthur Rinderknech
Head-to-Head: first meeting
19-year-old Joao Fonseca made a fantastic debut at the Monte Carlo Masters as he easily defeated Gabriel Diallo. Fonseca’s movement has improved, and with so much time on this surface to set up his shots, the rest of the tour will find it increasingly difficult to cope with him. Arthur Rinderknech is a tough opponent, especially when playing in front of crowd support, but Fonseca’s game will be too much for the Frenchman.
Prediction: Fonseca in 3
Lorenzo Musetti vs Valentin Vacherot
Head-to-Head: first meeting
It was a herculean effort from Valentin Vacherot to come back from a set and break down to win the match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Vacherot used the crowd to fire himself up in the second set and never looked back. However, the crowd support alone might not be enough against a player of Lorenzo Musetti’s calibre. Musetti has played just one match since the Australian Open, but he has had ample rest, and I expect a strong performance in this match.
Prediction: Musetti in 3
Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
