Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction
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The Clay court season begins for most of the top players at the ATP 1000 Monte-Carlo Masters which is set to begin from the 11th April. 8 out of the top 10 players in the world will battle it out in the Principality. Novak Djokovic is the top seed at the tournament while 11-time champion Rafael Nadal is seeded third.
Tournament Details:
- Tournament: Monte Carlo Masters 2021
- Date: April 11-18, 2021
- Number of Entrants: 56 (Singles), 28 (Doubles)
- Venue: Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Surface: Clay Court
- Prize Money: €2,082,960
- Defending champion: Fabio Fognini
Top Seeds at the Monte Carlo Masters 2021
- Novak Djokovic
- Daniil Medvedev
- Rafael Nadal
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Alexander Zverev
Men’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction
Top Half
The top half of the draw has some potential mouth-watering clashes lined up. It has the likes of Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev. Apart from these three, the half consists of some serious Clay court specialists in Dusan Lajovic, Jannik Sinner, in form Lorenzo Musseti and Gael Monfils.
All the top 8 seeds have been handed a first round bye. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has a tough path ahead at Monte Carlo. He could possibly face Italian sensation Jannik Sinner in his very first match(2nd Round). If all goes well, he is to play the Miami Masters champion Hubert Hurkacz in the Round of 16.
The top half will also witness some exciting first round matches. In form teenager Lorenzo Musetti faces Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev in the opening round. 11th seed David Goffin will take on former US Open champion Marin Cilic while Lorenzo Sonego takes on Marton Fucsovics.
Alexander Zverev has a fairly easy path and could face Novak Djokovic in the Quarter-Finals. He could possibly meet Lorenzo Sonego and David Goffin en route his QF berth.
4th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will have to perform out of his skin to make it into the later stages of the tournament. He could face either Karatsev or Musetti in his first match and could lock horns with Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Round of 16. 8th seed Matteo Berrettini and 10th seed Gael Monfils have been handed easy draws and could potentially meet in the Round of 16.
First Semifinal Prediction: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Bottom Half
The bottom half of the draw features the 11-time champion Rafael Nadal, 2nd seed Daniil Medvedev and defending champion Fabio Fognini. Medvedev has a tough task ahead of him given his game on Clay. He could possibly face Fabio Fognini in the Round of 16.
7th seed Diego Schwartzman has been handed a very easy draw and given his love with the surface, he should have an easy ride till the Last 8. Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta could face Schwartzman after a couple of easy rounds.
World No. 3 Rafael Nadal gets an easy draw. He could possibly face Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16 and could face Andrey Rublev in the Quarter-Final. Some of the first round matches are expected to too good to be played in the initial phase of the tournament.
In form Taylor Fritz faces Roberto Bautista Agut while Russian Karen Khachanov will take on Clay specialist Laslo Djere. Rublev has also been handed an easy draw. The only roadblock in his way could be 9th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Second Semifinal Prediction: Rafael Nadal vs Diego Schwartzman
Predicted final
Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
The two greatest rivals of all-time, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will lock horns in the final at the Principality. Nadal will go as the favorite but Djokovic will want to repeat his 2013 performance where he defeated Nadal in the final. Expect a three-set thriller with both players pushing each other to the absolute limit.
Predicted champion
Rafael Nadal
Also read: Find Out: Which ATP Star has the best tennis outfit
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