The Monte-Carlo Masters continues this week as Andrey Rublev faces Gael Monfils while Lorenzo Musetti goes up against Jiri Lehecka in the competition’s round of 32 stage. Damien Kayat previews.
2025 ATP Tour – ATP 1000
Monte-Carlo Masters
Monte Carlo Country Club
Selected RO32 – 9 April
Andrey Rublev 57/100 | Gael Monfils 27/20
The 2023 Monte Carlo champ Andrey Rublev is having the type of yo-yo season that Jelena Ostapenko would be proud of. The hard-hitting Russian is 9-7 for the campaign (seemingly humdrum numbers that usually denote an uninteresting start to the season).
Nothing could be further from the truth. Rublev has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous this season. He won his 17th ATP Tour title in Qatar, taking down an in-form Jack Draper in the final. But he has suffered either side of that shining moment, eliminated in the opening match of five separate events (including his two ‘Sunshine Double’ appearances).
In fact, Rublev comes into this event on a three-match losing streak. Perhaps the hardcourt aficionado will welcome the move to clay. Rublev has proven to be an astute clay-court operator over the years, winning back-to-back Masters 1000 clay-court events in 2023 and 2024 (Monte Carlo and Madrid, respectively).
A two-time finalist here, Rublev will use his athleticism to chase down everything while backing his humungous forehand to penetrate the court.
Gael Monfils improved to 15-5 for the season after a typically combative comeback win over Fabian Marozsan. Monfils lost the first set 6-4, but rallied back to comfortably win 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Monfils was dynamic from the back of the court, hitting 28 winners to just 20 unforced errors.
Turning 39 in September, the ever-popular Frenchman is enjoying a wonderfully fertile start to the campaign. He created history in Auckland, becoming the oldest men’s singles title winner since Ken Rosewall at the 1977 Hong Kong Open (Rosewall was 43).
He then performed brilliantly at the Aussie Open, withdrawing from his 4th round clash with Ben Shelton due to injury. He underperformed in the Middle East but enjoyed a solid ‘Sunshine Double’, going 5-2 in the two Masters 1000 events.
An elite mover, Monfils has looked to simplify his game at this stage of his career. He is looking to finish off more points before they become protracted rallies (his serve and forehand combination has been wonderful to behold).
He has some genuine expertise in this event, reaching the semis in 2015 before a runner-up finish in 2016. Monfils’ amazing athleticism gives him an edge on these sluggish clay surfaces (even at this age).
The Verdict: Rublev to win in straight sets 14/10
Rublev leads the head-to-head 2-1, winning their most recent meeting at the 2023 US Open. This will be their first-ever clay-court meeting. I just have a feeling that we could see the best of Rublev this week.
A two-time finalist here, Rublev has the raw power to penetrate these slow surfaces. Monfils- at this stage of his career- would probably prefer this match to take place on a quicker surface, where he would look to dictate with his serve and forehand.
I think that Rublev could have the athleticism to outlast Monfils in the more protracted rallies.
Lorenzo Musetti 78/100 | Jiri Lehecka 1/1
The 24-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti is struggling to recapture the form that propelled him up the world rankings last year. He is yet to reach a semifinal all season, with a calf injury not helping matters much.
The calf issue saw him withdraw from the Argentine Open quarters (he would then go on to withdraw from Rio without striking a ball). He returned to action during the ‘Sunshine Double’ but failed to make much of an impression there.
He will welcome the switch to these more turgid conditions. The crafty Italian is a two-time clay-court finalist, having won the European Open back in 2022. He reached the quarterfinals here in 2023 and picked up the coveted bronze medal at last year’s Olympic Games (played at Roland Garros).
He has terrific variety and is prepared to impart plenty of topspin on that forehand wing when necessary. He is a master of slice and is comfortable changing the trajectory of rallies. He will be hoping that a return to clay will change his fortunes.
He looked scrappy in his Monte Carlo opener, coming back from a set down against China’s Yunchaokete.
23-year-old Czech Jiri Lehecka looked more composed in his opener, taking down dangerous American Seb Korda 6-3, 7-6. He was particularly impressive on serve, winning 88% of his first-serve points on these slow surfaces.
It was a much-needed result for the talented Czech. Lehecka started the season in fantastic fashion, winning his 2nd career title in Brisbane before a highly creditable 4th round run at the Aussie Open.
He reached the semifinals in Qatar but has fallen off a cliff since then, bringing a four-match losing streak into this week’s event. Lehecka is a strategic all-court player with solid groundstrokes off both wings. He does have some clay-court pedigree, reaching the semifinals of last year’s Madrid Open (which he had to miss due to an injured back).
The Verdict: Lehecka to win in straight sets 9/4
Lehecka leads the head-to-head 2-0, winning their most recent meeting at the 2023 Miami Open. I am inclined to believe that Lehecka could improve his head-to-head superiority.
Musetti was unconvincing in his opener and may still be feeling the effects of that calf injury. Lehecka impressed against Korda, and I think he could overpower the Italian.
