Master 1000 Montecarlo - Day 5
De Minaur vs. Popyrin
De Minaur struggled to win against a player with a strong serve and powerful shots like Griekspoor, who managed to keep him away from the court whenever he could push. However, as time passed, De Minaur stepped up and turned the momentum of the match in his favor. Popyrin, on the other hand, proved to be a tough opponent on this surface by defeating the reigning champion Rublev in straight sets, who seemed disconnected and made more mistakes than usual. I think it could be a match with an uncertain outcome, but much will depend on Popyrin's serving percentages and his ability to handle De Minaur's pace variations.
Djokovic vs. Musetti
Djokovic easily defeated his first-round opponent with a convincing 2-0 victory. The break he took in Miami has helped him a lot, and he seemed very focused and confident despite the recent coaching change. However, Musetti, who two years ago staged a comeback victory against Djokovic, has also looked very confident in his game, winning convincingly against both Fritz and Fils. In this match, the key will certainly be the response, but especially for Musetti, it will be crucial to have a good serving performance to compete evenly.
Sonego vs. Humbert
A rematch of last year's match at Roland Garros, where Sonego prevailed with a convincing 3-0 victory. Since then, the Frenchman has started a growth path that has seen him rise in the ATP rankings to position 14. Sonego certainly has more knowledge of the surface than his opponent, but Humbert is confident and has shown that he is comfortable even on slower courts. The key to this match will absolutely be the serving, specifically the percentages of both players, to have a contested match. If Sonego were to lower his serving percentages as he is accustomed to, I believe he could be vulnerable to Humbert's aggression.
Struff vs. Sinner
Both players definitely perform better on faster surfaces, but Sinner is currently experiencing a dream run that makes him perform at his best even on these surfaces where he has yet to achieve any notable results in his career. On the other hand, Struff, after winning in straight sets against Coric, has shown that he can maintain an excellent serving performance, which allows him to comfortably hold serve and play the return games without pressure. I believe Sinner will win the match, but at least one set could be closely contested.
Zverev vs. Tsitsipas
This is a match between two players who are not only experienced on clay but are also in great form, especially Zverev. However, Tsitsipas is showing his best performances on his preferred surface. The difference in this match could be both players' serves and, most importantly, which diagonal the match will revolve around. The backhand diagonal favors the German, while the forehand diagonal favors the Greek. It will definitely be an enjoyable match that could go to a third set, and then the winner will be the one who makes fewer mistakes and who is in better physical condition.
Kachanov vs. Medvedev
Both players prefer faster surfaces but seem to adapt well to clay as well. Two players with contrasting styles: Kachanov with power and a strong serve against Medvedev's variations, retrievals, and extreme spin given to the ball. Considering the evening rain in Monte Carlo, I foresee a contested match that could ultimately see Medvedev come out on top.
Hurkacz vs. Ruud
Both players have shown excellent performances on clay, but Ruud particularly enjoys this surface and has achieved his best career results on red clay. Hurkacz, on the other hand, prefers faster surfaces, which are excellent for the speed of his serve, especially. I predict a closely contested match where the serve will make the difference, especially for the Pole, but ultimately I believe Ruud could prevail.