Monte-Carlo QF previews and predictions: Fognini vs. Ruud, Goffin vs. Evans

Defending champion Fabio Fognini is making another run in Monte-Carlo, where he will face Casper Ruud during quarterfinal action on Friday. David Goffin and Dan Evans are also aiming for a place in the last four.

Casper Ruud vs. (15) Fabio Foginini

With the 2020 Monte-Carlo Masters having been cancelled, Fabio Fognini is the defending champion as the 2019 winner. One door to the 2021 opened when Novak Djokovic tumbled out of tournament on Thursday, but some serious roadblocks remain. Although Rafael Nadal is a potential semifinal opponent for Fognini, the 18th-ranked Italian certainly won’t be looking past Ruud in the quarterfinals on Friday. Ruud has won both of their previous encounters; 6-2, 6-2 at the 2020 ATP Cup and 6-3, 6-3 last fall on the red clay of Hamburg.

For a while it looked like Fognini would be facing Pablo Carreno Busta. Instead, Ruud recovered from a 5-2 deficit in the third set and saved two match points before defeating last week’s Marbella champion 7-6(4), 5-7, 7-5 during third-round action. The 27th-ranked Norwegian preceded that result with straight-set beatdowns of Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune and Diego Schwartzman. Fognini is through to the last eight following victories over Miomir Kecmanovic, Jordan Thompson, and Filip Krajinovic. The 15th seed is looking motivated, but he has not been seriously tested yet this week and it remains to be seen how he will hold up mentally when Ruud inevitably gives him a challenge.

Pick: Ruud in 2

Dan Evans vs. (11) David Goffin

This is another instance of the underdog being undefeated against the favorite. However, Goffin and Evans have square off only once (Evans got the job done 6-4, 6-4 at the 2020 ATP Cup). The quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 tournament may be a much different proposition for the 33rd-ranked Brit. Prior to this week, Evans had not won a main-tour, main-draw match on clay since 2017. His Monte-Carlo run includes a 6-4, 7-5 upset of Novak Djokovic on Thursday, and now he has the tough task of following up the biggest win of his career just 24 hours laster.

Whereas Evans is in a Masters 1000 quarterfinal for the first time, Goffin is a former Masters 1000 finalist (Cincinnati 2019) and has reached the semifinals on four other occasions (including Monte-Carlo in 2017). The 15th-ranked Belgian is back in another quarterfinal following victories over Marin Cilic, Marco Cecchinato, and Alexander Zverev. A competitive contest should be in the cards but it’s a quick turnaround for Evans and Goffin has an edge on clay, so the No. 11 seed has to like his chances.

Pick: Goffin in 2