Day 5 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo will feature all eight Round of 16 matches, with a star-studded field featuring two-time champions Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas, and World #4 Daniil Medvedev. It should be a day full of great and exciting matches decided by tight margins.
ATP Monte Carlo Day 5 Predictions
Alex de Minaur vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-head: De Minaur 1-1 Popyrin
De Minaur has been having an incredible season so far and now has a chance to make a first career quarterfinal at a big clay event. Popyrin will surely be very motivated after his amazing win against the defending champion Andrey Rublev, but De Minaur is one of the most consistent players on tour and will be very tough to overcome here.
Prediction: De Minaur in 3
Karen Khachanov vs Daniil Medvedev
Head-to-head: Medvedev 5-1 Khachanov
Despite the 5-1 head-to-head in favour of Medvedev, the matches between these two tend to be extremely tight and it should be no different here. On a slow clay court, Khachanov’s chances should be higher than usual and he could definitely win here, but ultimately there’s a reason Medvedev is one of the most consistent players on tour and odds are that he will find a way through.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Novak Djokovic vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-head: Djokovic 3-1 Musetti
Musetti’s only win in this matchup was at this very venue last year, but even at the 2021 French Open the Italian has proved that he has the ability to seriously trouble Djokovic on this surface. The Serb has been having a poor season by his standards so far, but we know that his dry spells rarely last long; he showed a great level in his opening match here and should be able to overcome Musetti this time around.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 9-5 Zverev
On current form, Zverev would easily be the favorite, with Tsitsipas going through a massive slump. However, Tsitsipas has always had the edge in this matchup and on a slow claycourt that edge is even more pronounced. Monte Carlo is argubaly his best tournament, he has won two titles here and played some of his best tennis. He showed signs of his best tennis in his opening rounds in Monte Carlo and could well make it through here.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
