Monte-Carlo R2 previews and predictions: Simon vs. Dimitrov, Tsonga vs. Carreno Busta

Fellow Frenchmen Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be part of the Tuesday schedule in Monte-Carlo. Simon is contesting his second match against Grigor Dimitrov, while Tsonga’s opener will consist of a meeting with Pablo Carreno Busta.

(15) Gilles Simon vs. Grigor Dimitrov

Simon and Dimitrov will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they collide in round two of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday. The head-to-head series stands at 4-1 in Simon’s favor, but Dimitrov most recently prevailed 6-3, 7-6(10) on the hard courts of Brisbane. Simon had previously won eight consecutive sets at the Bulgarian’s expense, including two on clay in a 6-3, 6-3 decision at the 2012 Nice event.

Both players are coming off routine first-round victories. Simon improved to a mediocre 10-7 on the season by cruising past Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday. One day later, Dimitrov made quick 6-3, 6-2 work of Filip Krajinovic. The world No. 26 is looking to maintain momentum from a strong performance in Miami, where he upset Andy Murray before losing a three-setter to Gael Monfils in the fourth round. Although Dimitrov is increasing in confidence, Simon should benefit from relative home-court advantage and will likely be too consistent for his opponent in the end.

Pick: Simon in 3

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Pablo Carreno Busta vs. (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 

Tsonga and Carreno Busta will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Tuesday. Their only previous meeting came at the 2014 U.S. Open, where Tsonga rolled 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Thanks to Kei Nishikori’s absence from Monte-Carlo, the ninth-ranked Frenchman earned the No. 8 seed and with it an opening bye. He reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells but is coming off a tough third-round Miami loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in a third-set tiebreaker.

Carreno Busta booked a place in this showdown by beating qualifier Stephane Robert 6-3, 6-1 on Monday. The 51st-ranked Spaniard is 1-4 on hard courts this year, but he is up to his usual tricks on clay. At 10-9 overall, Carreno Busta advanced to quarterfinals in Quito and Marrakech in addition to a runner-up finish in Sao Paulo. Unfortunately for the underdog, Tsonga’s firepower is such that he can hit Carreno Busta off any court regardless of the surface.

Pick: Tsonga in 2

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