Second-round action at the Monte-Carlo Masters gets underway on Tuesday, when Gael Monfils tries to keep his run going against Alexander Bublik. Following a first-round bye, Alex de Minaur faces Cameron Norrie.
(WC) Gael Monfils vs. (8) Alexander Bublik
Monfils is making his final appearance at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and it got off to a good start with a 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-4 victory over Tallon Griekspoor on Sunday. The 39-year-old Frenchman has announced that this is his last season on the pro tour, but — when healthy — he is still playing decent tennis. Monfils has now advanced one round at three consecutive tournaments and he pushed Felix Auger-Aliassime to three tight sets in Indian Wells.
Up next for the former world No. 6 is a fourth meeting with Bublik, who trails the head-to-head series 2-1. Surprisingly, the Kazakh won their only previous clay-court contest (2020 French Open) before Monfils prevailed twice on hard court with straight-set routs at the 2022 Australian Open and 2023 Washington ATP 500. Although Bublik reached the French Open quarterfinals last spring, clay remains the surface on which he is least reliable. The world No. 11 did not even play well in Indian Wells (third round) or Miami (second round), so it’s hard to have much faith in him going into the clay-court swing. Look for Monfils to advance again at what might as well be a home tournament for him.
Pick: Monfils in 3
Cameron Norrie vs. (5) Alex de Minaur
De Minaur and Norrie will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this spring. They just faced each other in Indian Wells, where Norrie scored a 6-4, 6-4 victory to take a 3-2 lead in the head-to-head series. That result is hardly surprising, as the Brit enjoys any kind of slow, high-bouncing surface whereas De Minaur generally wants conditions to be fast and low-bouncing.
In other words, this should be another favorable matchup for Norrie on clay. Even though De Minaur has trained in Spain throughout his career, the red stuff is by far his least favorite surface. Like Bublik, De Minaur won just a single match during the Sunshine Double and heads into his least productive time of the year with zero momentum. Norrie has the additional advantage of having already played a match in the principality, battling past Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(0) on Sunday. An upset — albeit a minor one — could be in the cards.
Pick: Norrie in 3
