Defending Monte-Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas is still in the hunt for the title as he takes on Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals on Friday. Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner will also battle for a semifinal spot.
(3) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (12) Diego Schwartzman
Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a moderately successful start to the 2022 season (by his standards, anyway). He earned trips to the Australian Open semifinals and the Rotterdam final. Tsitsipas didn’t fare as well in the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami, but he appears to be back on track in Monte-Carlo. The No. 3 seed posted a pair of routine wins over Fabio Fognini and Laslo Djere to earn his spot in the quarterfinals.
Diego Schwartzman has worked much harder than Tsitsipas. As the No. 12 seed, the Argentine did not enjoy a first-round bye as his opponent did. He went the distance with Karen Khachanov to kick off the event, dispatched Marton Fucsovics in the second round, and endured another three-setter against Lorenzo Musetti in the third.
Although Tsitsipas is playing better tennis right now than Schwartzman, it has been a while since the Greek has gotten a win over the Argentine. You have to look back to 2018 for the last (and only) time that has happened. Schwartzman beat Tsitsipas this year (at the ATP Cup in round-robin play). Tsitsipas should still pocket the win, but look for Schwartzman to make a match of it.
Cheryl pick: Tsitsipas in 3
Ricky pick: Tsitsipas in 2
(2) Alexander Zverev vs. (9) Jannik Sinner
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev has made short work of his opponents so far in Monte-Carlo. The German breezed into the quarters with a pair of straight-set wins over Federico Delbonis and Pablo Carreno Busta. He had a chance to win the event in Montpellier earlier this season but faltered in the final against Alexander Bublik.
Italian Jannik Sinner goes into Friday’s semifinal not entirely healthy. The No. 9 seed battled his way through his third-round match with Andrey Rublev, but the blisters that pushed him out of the Miami Masters in March are still hampering him. He received treatment for them and leg pain against Rublev on Thursday.
A fully healthy Sinner might give Zverev a run for his money. The German isn’t exactly known for his prowess on slower clay and the crowd will be firmly behind Sinner. But a hobbled Sinner is going to have difficulty remaining competitive against a player of Zverev’s caliber.
Cheryl pick: Zverev in 2
Ricky pick: Zverev in 2
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