Monte Carlo – Thursday’s Preview

Thursday has some exciting matches lined up on the Monte Carlo Clay.   It seems everyone except Roger has signed up to play today.  I even smell a few upsets brewing in there somewhere.  The ones to be closely watched are also the ones with promise of high entertainment value.   Stay glued to your TV sets because there is some heavy duty clay action set up for today.

Thiem v/s Goffin (H2H = 3-6)

In 2014 they met four time and Goffin won all four, however Thiem now has a 3-2 advantage in the last 5 and 2-1 on clay between them.  Goffin has come a long way in the last 4 years and he makes up for lack of power with intelligently executed plays, however Thiem should take this one today on clay.

Prediction:  Thiem in 3 sets

UPSET ALARM

Pouille v/s Mannarino (H2H = 1-2)

They have met thrice on hard courts with Mannarino winning the first two and Pouille getting the better of Mannarino in the last one.   Pouille is ranked 17 to Adrian’s 56 for a reason now and I feel Pouille takes this one to even the H2H between them.

Prediction:  Pouille in 3 sets

UPSET ALARM

Berdych v/s Cilic (H2H = 6-5)

Between them Berdych leads with 6 wins to Cilic’s 5.  It is surprising that these two old war horses have not met on clay since 2012 and Berdych won both the clay encounters between them.  Cilic however won the last meeting at the Cincinnati Masters in 2016 but Berdych should still have an upper edge on clay and should take this in a tightly fought and hard-hitting contest.

Prediction:  Berdych in 3 sets

Busta v/s Djokovic (H2H = 0-1)

They met here in 2014 and Busta stood little chance in a 6-0, 6-1 loss.  Today might not be a route but Novak should have it easier than his previous round against Simon.

Prediction:  Djokovic in 2 sets

Wawarinka v/s Cuevas (H2H = 0-0)

This is the first ever meeting between a 31 and 32 year old!  Cuevas is enjoying a stellar year by his standards and has won 8 out of the last 10 matches he has played this year with wins over Troicki, Goffin and Fognini.  This could be an interesting one, and a good test of where Wawarinka stands on clay.  Wawarinka really needs to be careful with this one.  However, he should somehow manage to squeeze out a win in tightly fought 3 sets.

Prediction:  Wawarinka in 3 sets

UPSET ALARM

Murray v/s A. Ramos Vinolas (H2H = 0-0)

Albert has been having a good year so far but Andy is hungry to have a good showing at this tournament.  The number one takes this in straight.

Prediction:  Andy in 2 sets

Nadal v/s A. Zverev (H2H = 2-0)

This has the makings of a barn burner depending entirely on how mentally prepared Zverev is because Nadal, as we all know, will fight till the very last point on his favorite surface or anywhere else for that matter.  Their last two meetings this year have gone down to the 3^rd in Indian Wells and 5^th at the Australian Open.  Will Zverev break through this time and truly announce himself as the player for all surfaces?  It is a tough task to face Nadal on any surface and clay makes it near impossible.  Zverev has the shots and the serve but lacks the strategy and tactics to overcome the King of Clay in his own castle.  However, he cannot be written off completely and I feel Zverev could actually take this if he wins the first set!

Prediction:  Nadal in 2 sets

UPSET ALARM