Monte-Carlo R1 previews and predictions: Pouille vs. Wawrinka, Coric vs. Hurkacz

Monte-Carlo makes its traditional Sunday start and it will begin with a bang, highlighted by a first-round showdown between Stan Wawrinka and Lucas Pouille. Borna Coric and Hubert Hurkacz are also part of the schedule.

Lucas Pouille vs. Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka and Pouille will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday. Pouille reached the Australian Open semifinals from completely out of nowhere, but it has otherwise been a disastrous season for the 31st-ranked Frenchman. In fact, he has not won a single match at any other event–losing right away in Sydney, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami.

This certainly is not a favorable opening draw in Monte-Carlo, where Wawrinka is a former champion (2014) and has made four other trips to at least the quarterfinals. The 34-year-old Swiss is making his way back from knee problems in impressive fashion, sporting a respectable 11-7 record in 2019 that is highlighted by a runner-up finish in Rotterdam. Wawrinka owns a clear edge in both current form and the clay-court surface, so this should be mostly one-way traffic.

Pick: Wawrinka in 2

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Hubert Hurkacz vs. (9) Borna Coric

Hurkacz has already become one of the breakout performers on tour in 2019. The 22-year-old Pole started making a name for himself last season, but he is now taking things to a whole new level. Hurkacz has already upset Kei Nishikori twice this season, first en route to the Dubai quarterfinals and then on his way to a quarterfinal run in Indian Wells–where he also defeated Pouille and Denis Shapovalov before falling to Roger Federer.

Up first for the world No. 52 is Coric, and they will also be facing each other for the first time. Coric has been unspectacular this year after finishing as an alternate at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2018. The 13th-ranked Croat is 9-5 with a fourth-round showing at the Aussie Open, a semifinal result in Dubai, and a quarterfinal finish in Miami (lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime, who also ousted Hurkacz). Clay, on which Hurkacz has played a lot in Challengers but sparingly on the main tour, should give Coric enough of an advantage to survive a hard-fought contest.

Pick: Coric in 3

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