Round three of the Monte-Carlo Masters is always one of the busiest and best days on the tennis calendar. Thursday should be no exception, with the scheduled headlined by Joao Fonseca vs. Matteo Berrettini.
(WC) Matteo Berrettini vs. Joao Fonseca
To say that Berrettini has made the most of his Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters wild card would be a gross understatement. In fact, the 29-year-old Italian has not lost a single game through two rounds. That’s right — not a single game. Berrettini got a first-set retirement from Roberto Bautista Agut while leading 4-0 and then shockingly double-bageled Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday. It has all come a bit out of nowhere for Berrettini, who was just 6-6 for his 2026 campaign prior to this week.
Up next for the world No. 90 on Thursday is second meeting with Fonseca, who lost their only previous encounter 6-1, 7-6(5) in a 2024 Davis Cup rubber on an indoor hard court. Fast forward two years and Fonseca is obviously a much different player now. The 19-year-old Brazilian comes in at 40th in the rankings and has looked good this spring, highlighted by competitive losses to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz during the Sunshine Double followed by Monte-Carlo wins over Gabriel Diallo and Arthur Rinderknech. Although a 6-0, 6-0 result is obviously a great thing for Berrettini, it does add a bit of pressure on him moving forward. Count on the former world No. 6 getting a much different clay-court test from Fonseca in round three.
Pick: Fonseca in 3
(6) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. (9) Casper Ruud
Auger-Aliassime and Ruud will be squaring off for the 10th time in their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at 5-4 in Auger-Aliassime’s favor (4-3 on the main tour) after the Canadian scored a trio of victories in 2024, two of which came on clay — 6-4, 7-5 in Madrid and 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
It has been a competitive rivalry, including on the red stuff — on which Auger-Aliassime holds a 3-2 advantage. Another fun one should be on the cards in Monte-Carlo. Auger-Aliassime may be the favorite as the higher-ranked player (No. 7 to No. 12), but Ruud is already showing this spring that he is a different player on his clay-court stomping grounds. The two-time French Open runner-up has emerged from a minor slump with straight-set wins in Monte-Carlo over Alexei Popyrin and Corentin Moutet. Auger-Aliassime, who beat Marin Cilic 7-6(4), 6-3 on Wednesday, was awesome on indoor hard courts in February but otherwise has not done much this season. On this surface, the world No. 7 could be on upset alert.
Pick: Ruud in 3
WWW?
Btini in 3; Rudd in 3
Berrettini is certainly fresh. But has he had enough match practice here?😄
Would be nice if he could win a more normal match next and make a little run of it. I’m not going to even try to predict this one, just enjoy instead.
Ruud though is my pick for the other match.
Spot on these 2 predictions. Although if Berretini plays how he he’s been playing he has a genuine chance at a slight upset. I do believe when Berretini is healthy he is a better player at this stage in Fonseca’s young career so I technically wouldn’t call it an upset. Based on Berretini’s recent run of form and lack of results for the better part of a year at least I can see why he isn’t the favorite. Considering that Fonseca is definitely a generational talent and considered to be the next big thing in men’s tennis that has the ability to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominance Fonseca is the rightful favorite. Fonseca in 3. He’s come along way in a short amount of time and has showed maturity in his game that was needed to evolve his skill set. Make no mistake by any means that this match will ne on Fonsecas raquet. Berretini will make this a very interesting matchup and time will tell how well Fonseca’s game will respond to pressure packed situations
Fonseca would be the better clay courter , Berrettini still decent, though the conditions here a bit slow for him
Well played, Fonseca. And youngest to get this far in Monte Carlo since Nadal and Gasquet in 2005. Which was sort of yesterday…ahem…
quite a result after how good Berrettini was against Med
People as young as Fonseca still think they’re immortal. That delusion isn’t shattered until there’s serious injury or illness or malfunction for the first time. Perhaps that was his big advantages over Berrettini, who has already had the mortality reality check.