The European clay season officially kicks into high gear with the 2025 Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, the first clay Masters of the season. The tournament will run from April 6 to 13 in the breathtaking Principality of Monaco. The first Masters 1000 tournament on clay always sets the tone for the coming weeks, and this year’s draw promises a feast of exciting matchups right from the first round. In this article, the five best first-round matches are previewed.
Five Best First Round Matches in Monte Carlo
Arthur Fils vs Tallon Griekspoor
At just 20-years-old, Arthur Fils has already established himself as a top-20 player on the ATP Tour. He is on a great run of form at the Masters level, making the quarterfinals in Indian Wells and Miami back to back. Fils will play his first clay court match of the season at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters. The Frenchman has excelled on every surface in his short career, but two of his three ATP titles have come on clay, making him a dark horse here.
Tallon Griekspoor has been brilliant this season and has reached the quarterfinals or better in his last three tournaments. Clay is not his best surface, but he is still a threat when he is playing well. These two have played long and competitive matches in the past, and due to their brave game styles, it’s always a treat for fans to witness their matches.
Holger Rune vs Nuno Borges
Holger Rune loves playing at the Monte Carlo Masters and has been involved in several great matches in the last two years. The match against Nuno Borges has the potential to turn into an intriguing battle as the Portuguese has become a solid player over the last year and plays his best tennis on clay. Borges’ solo ATP title came on clay in Bastad last year, and he was almost untouchable that week. The surface’s slowness indicates that these two will engage in lengthy rallies; it will be intriguing to watch who adapts tactically to get the advantage.
Jiri Lehecka vs Sebastian Korda
Jiri Lehecka’s last clay season came to an unfortunate end when he got injured in the Madrid Masters semifinals, and that injury cost him a lot. He will look to make a fresh start in Monte Carlo, but has to deal with a stern test in the first round against the in-form Sebastian Korda. Both players are ranked inside the top 30 and have different game styles.
Lehecka’s game revolves around his big serve and flat, penetrating groundstrokes, particularly his forehand. His biggest challenge will be sustaining aggression against Korda’s defense, as the extremely slow courts will make it hard for Lehecka to continuously hit through the American. Korda’s smooth movement and ability to mix pace with spin can trouble the Czech player. Korda is also more experienced on clay which can play a factor. All in all, this is a must-watch for tennis enthusiasts.
Daniil Medvedev vs Karen Khachanov
Two players who know each other’s game quite well and have been a prominent force for Russian tennis in the last decade, especially Daniil Medvedev. However, Medvedev has not been playing his best tennis in recent times, and clay has never been his best surface, though he is still quite good on it. This presents a great opportunity for Karen Khachanov to improve his head-to-head against Medvedev.
Khachanov’s biggest problem in this matchup over the years has been hitting winners consistently and getting forced to play neutral rallies, which always works in Medvedev’s favour. Medvedev has also improved his sliding and added spin to his backhand on clay, but he doesn’t break often on clay, which can work for Khachanov, who has a better serve at the moment. If Khachanov sustains aggression and avoids Medvedev’s trap of endless baseline exchanges, this could get very interesting.
Ben Shelton vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is having a wonderful season, and returning to his favored surface would boost his confidence even more. The former Monte Carlo Masters finalist will play Ben Shelton in arguably the best match of the first round. Shelton is making his debut here, and his thunderous lefty serve can do a lot of damage on these high-bouncing courts. However, the slower conditions will test his patience and footwork, areas he’s still refining.
Davidovich Fokina doesn’t have the luxury of a big serve, but he is lightning fast and plays with variety. He is much more experienced than Shelton on this surface, but can he deal with the American’s serve and top-spin heavy forehand? We will find out soon.
Notable Mentions
- Tomas Machac vs Sebastian Baez
- Frances Tiafoe vs Miomir Kecmanovic
- Fabio Fognini vs Francisco Cerundolo
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