Monte-Carlo previews and predictions: Zverev vs. Bublik, Rublev vs. Munar

Alexander Zverev will take the court against Alexander Bublik as first-round action in Monte-Carlo wraps up on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the second round is beginning with No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev facing unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar.

Alexander Bublik vs. (13) Alexander Zverev

Zverev and Bublik will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Tuesday. Surprisingly, Bublik has won both of their previous encounters. However, both of those came on indoor hard courts (7-5, 6-3 at the 2021 Rotterdam event and 6-4, 6-3 exactly one year later in the Montpellier final).

Clay should be much more advantageous for Zverev, mainly because Bublik is pretty much a disaster on this surface. Dating back to the start of 2018 he is a horrendous 13-28 on dirt. Zverev, on the other hand, has won three Masters 1000 titles on clay. Almost a year removed from his nasty ankle injury sustained in the semifinals of the French Open, Zverev is starting to show signs of improvement. He should have no trouble getting past Bublik to begin his Monte-Carlo campaign.

Pick: Zverev in 2

(5) Andrey Rublev vs. Jaume Munar

Rublev and Munar will be squaring off for the third time in their careers and for the first time since 2018. They split a pair of encounters five years ago, when Munar prevailed 6-3, 6-2 at the Winston-Salem tournament before Rublev won in five sets at the NextGen ATP Finals.

This is obviously a much different matchup now, and it is Rublev who has separated himself as a heavy favorite. The sixth-ranked Russian has not been at his best in 2023, but he is still clearly at a different level from his second-round opponent. Moreover, Rublev is well rested on the heels of a bye whereas Munar had to survive a tight three-setter against Marc-Andrea Huesler in his Monte-Carlo opener. Clay may give the world No. 83 an opportunity to be somewhat competitive, but Rublev should roll.

Pick: Rublev in 2