Monte-Carlo Masters 2022: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction
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CC_ExpressAlexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas
The first big tournament of the 2022 clay season, the Monte-Carlo Masters will commence from April 10 and will mark the return of 20-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic on the tour.
Tournament Details:
- Tournament: Monte-Carlo Masters 2022
- Date: April 10- April 17, 2022
- Number of Entrants: 56 (Singles), 28 (Doubles)
- Venue: Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Surface: Clay Court
- Prize Money: €5,415,410
- Defending champion: Stefanos Tsitsipas
Top Seeds at the Monte-Carlo Masters 2022
- Novak Djokovic
- Alexander Zverev
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Casper Ruud
- Andrey Rublev
- Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Cameron Norrie
- Carlos Alcaraz
Top Half
World No.1 Novak Djokovic will headline the top half of the draw. He receives a first round bye along with the other top 8 seeds. He will play his first match on clay for the season against either Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Marcos Giron in the second round. He could possibly meet 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who opens against Dan Evans, in the third round. Bautista Agut could face David Goffin in the second round.
The man of the moment, Carlos Alcaraz is also in the top quarter and will open against either Sebastian Korda or Botic van de Zandschulp. In his last Monte Carlo Masters of his career, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will face Marin Cilic in the opener with the winner taking on either Taylor Fritz or Lucas Catarina. Alcaraz and Djokovic are expected to meet in the quarterfinal for a blockbuster clash.
4th seed Casper Ruud will most probably face Aslan Karatsev in a tight second round clash and is drawn alongside Nikoloz Basilashvili who opens against Grigor Dimitrov. In an All-Serbian clash, Dusan Lajovic will take on Filip Krajinovic and could meet Dimitrov. 7th seed Cameron Norrie will face the winner of the match between Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Tallon Griekspoor. Hubert Hurkacz will open against Gael Monfils in an exciting first round clash with the winner facing either Ugo HUmbert or Pedro Martinez. Norrie and Ruud are drawn to meet in the last 8.
1st Semifinal Prediction: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
Bottom Half
Alxander Zverev, who will most likely open against Federico Delbonis, will headline the bottom half of the draw. 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta will face a qualifier in the opening round and will face the winner of the match between Stan Wawrinka and Alexander Bublik. 5th seed and 2021 finalist, Andrey Rublev will most probably face Alex de Minaur in the second round and is drawn alongside Jannik Sinner. The Italian will meet Borna Coric in the first round and could face Cristian Garin in the next round. Sinner and Rublev are expected to lock horns in the third round with the winner facing Zverev in the last 8.
Defending champion and 3rd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will face either Fabio Fognini or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round. The Greek is drawn with Lorenzo Sonego who opens against Ilya Ivashka. The Itslaian could face Laslo Djere in the next round and then will go on to meet Tsitsipas. 6th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime will face either Lorenzo Musetti or Benoit Paire in the second round while Diego Schwartzman will opens against Karen Khachanov. Felix, if he goes on winning is expected to face Tsitsipas in the quarterfinal.
2nd Semifinal Prediction: Stefanos Tsitsipas
Semifinals
Novak Djokovic will be up against Casper Ruud in the first semifinal. Djokovic’s ultimate test will mostly be against Alcaraz in the quarterfinal and if he tackles that, he will definitely be the favorite. Despite Ruud’s incredible clay-court game, Djokovic is one of the best players on the tour and should move into the final comfortably.
Two NextGen stars, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsiaps will meet in the second semifinal. Zverev and Tsitsiaps have had an exciting rivalry over the last few years and on clay, Tsitaipas will have an edge given his record on the red dirt last year.
Monte Carlo Masters Final: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Final
20-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic will lock horns against the best clay court player from 2021, Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Final of the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic is playing just his second tournament of the year but will fancy his chances for another Masters title. But Tsitsipas has tasted success last year at the Principality and will give it back to Djokovic. Expect a thrilling encounter with the Serb winning his 38th Masters title.
Champion: Novak Djokovic
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Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)