It’s deja vu all over again for Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti, who also faced each other in the Monte-Carlo third round last year. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev battles Stefanos Tsitsipas for a quarterfinal spot on Thursday.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Lorenzo Musetti
Djokovic and Musetti will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers and for the second straight season in round three of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters when they meet again on Thursday. Although Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 3-1, Musetti pulled off a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 upset 12 months ago in the same round of this same tournament. The Italian also came close–somewhat–of stunning Djokovic at the 2021 French Open, where the Serb recovered from two sets down before getting retirement up 4-0 in the fifth.
Musetti is once again playing well in the principality, having already taken out Taylor Fritz and Arthur Fils in routine straight sets this week. Still, the world No. 24 is just 9-10 this season–and even worse news for him is his opponent’s opening performance. After losing early in Indian Wells to lucky loser Luca Nardi and skipping Miami, Djokovic made a statement with a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Roman Safiullin on Tuesday. The 36-year-old looks motivated for a third Monte-Carlo title (he has won every other Masters 1000 event at least three times), but reaching the quarters may not be easy against a familiar foe who loves clay.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
(5) Alexander Zverev vs. (12) Stefanos Tsitsipas
A return to Monte-Carlo may be just what the doctor ordered for Tsitsipas. The Greek has not reached a final this season and has advanced to quarterfinals only twice; he has not captured a title since last summer in Los Cabos. However, this is arguably the world No. 12’s favorite tournament. He lifted the trophy in both 2021 and 2022 before reaching the quarters last spring. Tsitsipas has eased past Laslo Djere and Tomas Martin Etcheverry so far this week, delivering an especially impressive 6-1, 6-0 beatdown of Etcheverry on Wednesday.
Of course, the competition level increases in a big way with Zverev on the other side of the net. The German is 19-6 in 2024 after making quick 6-3, 6-4 work of Sebastian Ofner on Tuesday. Zverev advanced to the quarters in Indian Wells and the semis in Miami, so he is in stellar form heading into a clay-court swing on which he has enjoyed plenty of success in the past. He is a two-time champion in Madrid, a one-time winner of Rome, and a two-time semifinalist in Monte-Carlo. Although Zverev trails the head-to-head series 9-5, it is all tied up 4-4 in their last eight meetings. The world No. 5 may have a slight edge in what should be one of the best matches of the entire tournament.
Pick: Zverev in 3
WWW?
Agree, Zverev in 3.
What a difference one or two year’s time makes in tennis! We need more of this rivalry. Tsitsipas is not as focused as Zverev has been. It’s time for Stefanos to fight and stop slipping away from the top ten.
Zverev vs. Tsitsipas is the more interesting match, but I almost skipped Novak vs. Musetti.
Novak in 2.
I was actually thinking the opposite. If you watch Stefanos’ most recent interview, he is in a really good place right now mentally. With it being his favorite surface, and the momentum he is on, he should prevail. No doubt its a really close matchup.
Thank you, Popek. I did not see Stafanos’ most recent interview. I’m unsure if I trust him to be candid in every interview, but he has had enough time on the slippery slope. It is about time that he sorted it out and made it clear on the tennis court.
I didn’t get to see the match.
Guys I don’t want to sound ungrateful because you share your picks for free but I have a bone to pick with u guys like the old folks say. U can’t accurately predict every match so when u said Baez over Struff Monte Carlo earlier this week I trusted your assessment though Struff actually won & it’s up to Sinner to take him down now. However, you all first said this morning Medvedev over Khachanov in 2 then changed it to Khachanov over Medvedev in 3 so not just the set amount changed but also the winning player. I’m not complaining but just pointing out the facts & I actually take screenshots when you provide your picks so I can refer back as needed.
I am an inexperienced tennis bettor on a limited income but I do my own research before I bet based on player form, motivation, match surface and head to head stats. Therefore, I just depend on you guys for expert advice but the information you provide is sketchy.
Finally, I am going to bet on Medvedev over Khachanov against what you guys advised based on sporty trend / stats zone / matchstats / stevegtennis analysis I have done~ We’ll see how it goes:)
Baez should have won. He was up a set and 5-2. That was the correct pick.
Stop being a bitch and make your own picks if you’re going to complain.
Tennis picks are something you do on your own. It takes years to understand the all of the variables involved. It’s nice to have a site to reference, but just as it is a solo sport, so is your sole responsibility to make the final pick. I have so many years now, that rarely does another opinion sway my pick. It’s nice to check in to see if people agree, but if they don’t, then so be it. That’s their view.
What you seem to be saying, is go with your gut. I’d agree with that, having been let down for years by following predictions on websites
You can only predict who is likely to be the better player on the day. Not always the winner. It’s who wins the big points.
Zverev needs a rest. They were some tired looking shots at the end of that 2nd set tie breaker.
See you in Rome, Zverev.
Musetti in 2; Zv in an entertaining 3.
ouch!
I had to dig deeper into Medvedev vs. Khachanov to see if there was another time when Karen won over Meddie. I’m a follower of the 3 Russians: Khachanov, Rublev, and Medvedev.
Khachenov turned pro in 2013, earlier than Rublev and Meddie in 2014. By 2017, Medvedev won the Nitto Final and beat Khachanov in a Round Robin Match.
I didn’t watch Monte Carlo today, but even if Meddie was tired, Karen has had a good year in 2024 (not as good as Meddie’s). Karen is 12/6 win/loss and has won the Marseille title in 2024. Meddie throwing a fit during match – I get it.
My point is coming.
Tsitsipas beating Zverev today was a surprise to me. I would have undoubtedly picked Zverev over Tsistipas, with Medvedev making the SF, had I completed my bracket. Who used to be thought of as the best of these players on Monte Carlo clay? Stefanos Tsitsipas is possibly the one. However, Medvedev beat Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo 2019 (in the round of 16).
All that said, I can’t pick one or the other.
Well Tsitsi’s record here, double champ is obvious , but I would never pick him either after the year he’s had. Zverev record here not great. He had plenty of chances in the first set and managed to pull back from 0-5 to tiebreak in the second but lost.
I would still be backing Zverev on clay over Tsitsi or Meddy ,most of the time, these days.
Bit disapppointed Musetti never kept it going against Nole, and kudos to Demon for beating Rublev here, last thing I expected.
All in all I hope Nole wins now, it will make things very interesting.