Expert picks are back for the Monte-Carlo men’s singles championship match between Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune on Sunday afternoon. A three-team panel previews the showdown and makes its predictions.
Ricky Dimon: The only real concern for Holger Rune in this one is a three-set battle with Jannik Sinner deep into Saturday night, while Andrey Rublev finished his semifinal against Taylor Fritz hours earlier. However, Rune was fine physically in that match and if he is feeling 100 percent on Sunday than he should have just about every other matchup advantage over Rublev. The 19-year-old boasts the more well-rounded all-court game, especially on clay. He is also a Masters 1000 champion already, having triumphed at the 2022 Paris Indoors–where he beat an amazing five consecutive top-10 opponents, including Rublev in the third round and Novak Djokovic in the final.
Rublev, on the other hand, is 0-2 lifetime in Masters 1000 title matches and did not even come close to winning a set in either one of those contests (one in Monte-Carlo–against Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021). Still, I expect this to be competitive. Rublev’s forehand is lethal and he outlasted Rune in an absolutely wild five-set affair at this year’s Australian Open. Rune will likely get some revenge, but it probably won’t be easy. Rune 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
Cheryl Murray: If Sunday’s match is ANYTHING like the 2023 Australian Open encounter between Rublev and Rune, we are in for a real treat. In January these two met in Melbourne with electrifying results. Rublev staved off a pair of match points and clawed his way back from a 5-0 deficit in the super- tiebreaker to close out the match 7-6(9) in the fifth set.
It’s likely Sunday’s final is at least going the distance. Rune will be all fired up from his various…interactions with a jeering crowd during his semifinal against Sinner on Saturday. The Dane was clutch at just the right moment, breaking Sinner at 5-5 to earn a chance to serve out the match. For his part, Rublev has had a great week–but I don’t see him getting past Rune and his confidence this time around. Rune 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Pete Ziebron: Three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka won only a single Masters 1000 title in his career, ironically in Monte-Carlo. On Sunday, either Rublev will match Stan’s number or Rune will even pull ahead with his second when the victor hoists the hardware in the Cote D’Azur. Rublev was a finalist here two years ago and even defeated Rafael Nadal in the quarters at that time. This year he navigated his way through a trickier than expected opening match against Jaume Manur and then steadied his game onward. Despite dropping the opening set against Fritz in the semis, the Russian lost just four games the rest of the way to clinch his spot in the final.
Rune had a much more challenging route to the Monte-Carlo Final. Victories over Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Sinner here are a bit reminiscent of his Paris Masters title late last year when the Dane defeated FIVE top-10 players plus Wawrinka to win the title. This will be their third meeting since last November, with Rublev advancing to the Australian Open quarters after winning a fifth-set tiebreaker 11-9. Rublev simply wants this title more, plus Rune will be a tad fatigued after valiantly rallying past Sinner and the crowd in the semis. Rublev 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
Rublev vs. Rune match preview
who ya got?
Rune first teenager to be in the Monte Carlo Masters final since Nadal in 2006. Would be amazing to see him win his second Masters 1000 already 💪
Rune in 3
Happy to see the votes swinging Andrea’s way
What a let off! Rublev should have broken there. Rune didn’t play well that game.
Where is everyone??
Elizabeth, Margot, Al……!
Good to see Rublev fight back….
Hello, Amy. I woke up in time to check the score, and Rune had won the first set. I didn’t need to see that. Rune will win plenty of masters and likely GS’s too.
It is nice to hear Rubles is fighting back.
After I finish my pancakes, I will check back. I am recording it.
Congrats to Big Al on winning the MC bracket!
OMG Rublev won!!!!
What a breakthrough for him!
On clay as well!
Hello Elizabeth…!😀
Really??? hahaha
Thanks.
*Waves* to Amy.
Really pleased for Rublev, a long time coming. Rune, if he can calm down a bit, not too much, who knows where so much talent will take him?
Hi Margot!!!
Very happy for Rublev!!😀
Rune will win plenty of big tournaments…
Just tead Pete’s excellent analysis above the line. Very good breakdown, and well predicted.
Pete got lucky!
I went for Rublev in three too.
Lol!
No such thing as luck 😉
He is humble and generous – two reasons I love him. He has learned to moderate temper tantrums.
Congrats Andrey!
Commies to Rune
One of the most impressive things about Rublev’s win was how he kept hold of his emotions. Could be a turning point for him.
Rubles spent a lot of his younger years in a redhead rage. I thought he could moderate it, but maybe not entirely give it up.
This is the win he needed; without it, he would not progress and get the more significant wins he wants. The confidence this win gives him may help the next time he meets Medvedev in the Cincinnati final or a similar situation.
and..he has the most gorgeous smile, really lights up his rather dour face.
So true, Margot! Most of the time on the court, he appears miserable. But you are right; when he smiles, it’s genuine; his eyes smile too.
He does have a girlfriend. He met her in 2016, but they are both reticent about it. She goes to many tournaments, but she keeps a low profile. She is Latvian; her name is Anastaija Humotova. I finally saw her today; she doesn’t usually sit with his coaching team. 😀
https://www.wtfoot.com/wags/who-is-anastasija-homutova-girlfriend-of-andrey-rublev/
It’s a cheesy article that popped up today and feels suspicious. But the pictures are the same ones that come up every time I google Rublev’s girlfriend. Maybe he will announce something about it now that he has the MC title.
Fans want to know he’s happy and loved.
Would have picked Rune in 3….but happy for Rublev!