The second Grand Slam of the year is fast approaching with Roland Garros just a few weeks away. With that comes the start of the clay court season, starting with the ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. The best tennis players will once again take the court for some high-level action.
Novak Djokovic returns after a record-setting March. Can he further extend his numerous records? Or will the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, show up to put on a dominant display on the surface he so loves? There are plenty of questions heading into the next stop of the ATP World Tour. Read on as we take a complete look at the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters.
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It was a terrific, record-setting month of March for world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He completed back-to-back three-peats in Masters 1,000 tournaments, winning at Indian Wells and Miami. He dispatched Kei Nishikori in the Miami Open final, 6-3, 6-3, to claim a record 28th ATP World Tour Masters title.
The win was Djokovic’s record-tying sixth Miami title, as he passed coach Boris Becker for 11th on Open Era match wins (714), and Roger Federer as all-time prize money leader on ATP World Tour. He also achieved a three-peat at a record seventh different tour-level event, completed the Indian Wells-Miami double for an unprecedented fourth time and compiled a 56-2 match record in reaching a record 11-consecutive Masters 1,000 finals.
In short, Djokovic is still awesome.
Djokovic can further build his record at the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters. He’s the defending champion at the event, and has won the tournament twice in the past three years. It’s going to be difficult to deny Djokovic yet another title, especially with how well he’s been playing.
Roger Federer
Roger Federer didn’t play at Indian Wells and Miami in order to rest an injured knee. He should be good to go at the start of the clay court season starting with the Monte Carlo Masters. Federer has been excellent this season with an 8-2 match record. He’s only lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open and Milos Raonic in the final of the Brisbane Open.
Getting to a fast start is crucial for Federer. He’s a perfect 8-0 when winning the first set this season and 0-2 when losing it. He didn’t really impress at the Monte Carlo Masters last year, exiting in the Round of 16 with a loss to Gael Monfils. Federer may not be at his best heading into this tournament. Rather, he may be using this to shake off the rust with the French Open approaching.
Rafael Nadal
The King of Clay makes his return to Monte Carlo, where he won eight straight titles from 2005 to 2012. Pay no heed to Nadal’s recent dip in form the past couple of years. He’s at his best when he’s on clay, the surface he so loves. He has won 92 percent of his matches on the surface.
Expect Nadal to be in form in this tournament. He has the best record at the Monte Carlo Masters, a staggering 53-4 record. He has won three finals against Roger Federer and two against Novak Djokovic. He’s the only player in the Open Era to win eight consecutive titles in the same tournament. If there’s a time for Nadal to swoop by and dominate, it’s at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Sleepers
Milos Raonic
This may be the year that Milos Raonic finally emerges as a true contender in the ATP World Tour. He has gone an outstanding 17-3 this season. He even has a title, beating Roger Federer in the final of the Brisbane Open. Raonic hasn’t been too good on clay with a 39-26 career match record on the surface. But this could be the year he takes his clay court game up a notch.
Long Shot
Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios is another of the young guns rising up the ladder this season. He has an excellent 14-4 match record this season and a title from the Open 13 Provence. He has some victories against big names such as Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic. Expect Kyrgios to have some sort of success in this tournament as he warms up for the clay court season.
Writer’s Prediction
Nadal steps up his game on clay. He finally wins his first title of the year.
