Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will get started in Madrid on Tuesday as they try to navigate tough draws at this Masters 1000 event. Djokovic is facing familiar foe Gael Monfils, while Alcaraz is going up against Nikoloz Basilashvili.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Gael Monfils
Djokovic and Monfils will be squaring off for the 19th time in their careers (18th at the ATP level) when they meet again in round two of the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday. This is one of the most lopsided head-to-head matchups in tennis history, with Djokovic sweeping it 17-0 on the main tour (Monfils prevailed on the Futures circuit back in 2004). They have not faced each other since the 2020 Dubai tournament, where the Serb saved three match points before triumphing 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-1.
If there was ever a time for Monfils to find the win column against Djokovic, it’s now. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has played sparingly in 2022 since he is unvaccinated as his record stands at just 5-3. Unfortunately for Monfils, he is also far from his best these days. The 21st-ranked Frenchman is a decent 12-5 this year after beating Carlos Gimeno Valero 6-3, 6-0 on Monday, but he has not even reached a quarterfinal since the Australian Open. This could be another roller-coaster ride considering the lack of form for both men, but you can’t pick against Djokovic in this particular matchup.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs. (7) Carlos Alcaraz
Much of the tennis world assumed that Alcaraz would be the breakout star of 2022, but the extent to which that has become the case could not have been expected. The 18-year-old Spaniard is an unbelievable 23-3 with three titles–including the Miami Masters to go along with 500 trophies in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona.
Up first Alcaraz in Madrid is Basilashvili, who lost their only previous encounter 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 at the 2021 French Open. Basilashvili scored a nice 7-5, 6-4 victory over Fabio Fognini on Monday, but that is hardly any indication that he is emerging from a massive slump (4-13 record in 2022 prior to this week). Alcaraz is a huge step up in competition from Fognini and he has home-court advantage as Spain’s second-biggest star right now, so the underdog Georgian is in serious trouble.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
Look for Basil to make this closer than expected as he is actually playing fairly well right now, Alcaraz is known to struggle in his openers, at least 1 close set for Alcaraz, but he gets it done in 2.