The ATP Monte Carlo Masters has reached the round-of-16 stage and most of the big names are standing their ground in Monaco, including two-time champion Novak Djokovic and Australian Open hero Jannik Sinner.
All eight last-16 ties take place on Thursday with Djokovic and Sinner understandably short prices to defeat Lorenzo Musetti and Jan-Lennard Struff respectively, while the tie of the round is arguably the clash between Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
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Masters acca
- Casper Ruud to beat Hubert Hurkacz @ 4/9
- Ugo Humbert to beat Lorenzo Sonego @ 8/13
- Daniil Medvedev to beat Karen Khachanov @ 2/5
- Stefanos Tsitsipas to beat Alexander Zverev @ 9/10
Accumulator returns 5/1
Ruud awakening for Estoril champ Hurkacz
Dual French Open finalist Casper Ruud has not always been at his best in Monte Carlo but he’s a top-class clay-court performer when he’s in the mood and he looks a decent bet to down Hubert Hurkacz.
Hurkacz arrived in Monte Carlo following one the most encouraging clay performances of his life, lifting the Estoril Open title, but a 27-27 career win-loss record on the surface offers a better indication of his struggles in slower conditions.
Ruud, meanwhile, has been going deep in most tournaments this season and he looked in good touch in a 6-2 6-4 win over Alejandro Tabilo in his first Monte Carlo match.
Humbert can continue to show improvement
Lorenzo Sonego leads Ugo Humbert 2-0 in head-to-head meetings on clay but it’s Humbert who fully deserves to be favourite on recent form.
The Frenchman has enjoyed an excellent start to the 2024 season, winning titles in Marseille and Dubai, and while his best results have generally come on faster courts, he did claim two Challenger Tour titles on clay last season.
Sonego is on the slide down the rankings. His record against Humbert gives him a chance and he did defeat him on these courts last season, but there is no doubt who the superior performer is at present.
Medvedev to ease part compatriot Khachanov
Daniil Medvedev found only Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner too strong in Indian Wells and Miami, losing out in the final in California and the semis in Florida, and he should keep his Monte Carlo dreams alive with a win over Karen Khachanov.
Medvedev is not a natural clay-courter but he won the Italian Open last season and there was a lot to like about his second-round win against resurgent Gael Monfils.
Fellow Russian Khachanov remains a solid performer but he has won just one of five clashes with his compatriot.
High-class clash could go the way of Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev meet for the 15th time in ATP competition and it could be Greek star Tsitsipas who claims the victory on his beloved clay.
It has been a tough start to the season for Tsitsipas, who seems to be going backwards on other surfaces, but he destroyed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1 6-0 in the last round and he’s ultra-comfortable in Monte Carlo, where he lives and where he’s won this title twice.
Tsitsipas leads Zverev 9-5 in head-to-head meetings and he’s won four of their five clay clashes.
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