Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2025, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[Moxie]

Maybe! I still think he maxes out as a top 10 guy who dips into the top 5, but is not one of the "best of the best." He'll win Masters and might sneak out a Slam or two, but that's because it is a more open field. We're used to a huge gap between the Big 3/4 and everyone else, with the occasional guy like Del Potro or Wawrinka slipping into the mix. Maybe Fils has times when he's up there like that, but I just don't see him on the same level as Sincaraz or what I imagine Fonseca will be.

I don't know if you remember this, but last year at some point I posed the question of who would be better: Mensik or Fils. It is still an open question, imo.

I know you like to predict based on potential, but I think 20 is young.

I don't remember the Mensik comparison, but since I couldn't see the appeal of Mensik's game, I would have found the comparison less than a compliment to Fils. (That's just me...I didn't see what others saw in the young Czech.)

 

[Moxie]

Wow, that was tight and fun. ¡Vamos!

 

[mrzz]

20 is young

40 is young

Thanks for the "likeable"!

 

[El Dude]

Grigor...

 

[Moxie]

Grigor...

What happened to him? The first set went so fast, I didn't have time to watch, then I had to run out. Double-bagel??

 

[El Dude]

What happened to him? The first set went so fast, I didn't have time to watch, then I had to run out. Double-bagel??

Don't know - didn't watch. But, man.

Anyhow, De Minaur is ripe for a Masters. Him, Ruud, and Fils are my top choices for first time winners. For Fils, it seems only a matter of when. Ruud has that vibe of someone who might never win one...sort of the Kei Nishikori of his gen. De Minaur I could go either way. On one hand, he's a good candidate because he's always around. On the other, he seems to be a guy that won't win one as much as push someone else to lose. That's hard to do when you have guys like Sinner and Alcaraz around. Now (or Madrid) without Sinner around and Alcaraz still a bit wobbly seems like an ideal chance.

 

[Moxie]

Don't know - didn't watch. But, man.

Anyhow, De Minaur is ripe for a Masters. Him, Ruud, and Fils are my top choices for first time winners. For Fils, it seems only a matter of when. Ruud has that vibe of someone who might never win one...sort of the Kei Nishikori of his gen. De Minaur I could go either way. On one hand, he's a good candidate because he's always around. On the other, he seems to be a guy that won't win one as much as push someone else to lose. That's hard to do when you have guys like Sinner and Alcaraz around. Now (or Madrid) without Sinner around and Alcaraz still a bit wobbly seems like an ideal chance.

de Minaur isn't as much of a "pusher" as he used to be.

 

[Moxie]

Musetti takes the 2nd, so it goes to the decider. I didn't see much of the first set, but Musetti has clearly found his game since then.

 

[don_fabio]

Wow...Charly kind of stole that set at the last second.

That was a lucky escape, with 0:40 down on a serve at 5:5 and he couldn't make a first serve in that game. It wasn't enough for the young French. I can't shake off a feeling that Fils is just a ball basher, in some way an improved version of silent K.

 

[Moxie]

Musetti gets the break, and consolidates to love. 5-3!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Lorenzo dont you dare go walkabout serving out this match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Noone beats Lorenzo 5 times and gets away with it
Lorenzo Forza! takes out the defending champion Stef in 3 sets 16 63 64
mrzz will be happy

 

[Moxie]

That was a lucky escape, with 0:40 down on a serve at 5:5 and he couldn't make a first serve in that game. It wasn't enough for the young French. I can't shake off a feeling that Fils is just a ball basher, in some way an improved version of silent K.

Personally, I think Fils is much more interesting that Khachanov, plus he's 20, with room to grow. KK has only barely gotten less boring. Fils is very strong and athletic, too, like Tsonga, who would have had a better career, I feel sure, had he not played in the big 3 era.

 

[mrzz]

Musetti takes the 2nd, so it goes to the decider. I didn't see much of the first set, but Musetti has clearly found his game since then.

Or read my post.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Fils really had to win in straight sets against Alcaraz, at one stage I thought he would, hitting 100mph fhands consistently in 3 sets and also hitting 85 mph bhands is a big task, his serve let him down when it mattered.
I have 'No Words' for Dimitrov period
My dark horse Foki keeps on winning, he has done well at MC in the past, and this surface suits his game, I would love for him to win the tournament, he gets to finals and then nerves take over, and implodes sad to say
My lovable Head Case Lorenzo left his 'head case ways' in the locker room for a change

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tsitsipas will leave the Top 15 from Monday for the first time since October 2018, maybe he can persuade Goran to start earlier!
de Minaur who has become a 'clay goat' is just 2 wins away from a Top 5 debut on Monday

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP1000 Monte Carlo SFs,

Alcaraz (2) vs Davidovich Fokina
A player from Spain will play in the final for the 22nd time in the last 35 editions of this tournament.
Alcaraz leads their H2H 1-0

de Minaur (8) vs Musetti (13) H2H 1 all. First meeting on clay

 

[mrzz]

ATP1000 Monte Carlo SFs,

Alcaraz (2) vs Davidovich Fokina
A player from Spain will play in the final for the 22nd time in the last 35 editions of this tournament.
Alcaraz leads their H2H 1-0

de Minaur (8) vs Musetti (13) H2H 1 all. First meeting on clay

Two interesting matches. Will try to catch some parts of both.

On paper Fokina is a player who should bring problems to Alcaraz, but this late in the tournament Carlos is the clear favorite.

Musetti has more clay credentials than de Minaur, but he must be doing something very right to give Dimitrov a double bagel (we call it a bicycle here in Brazil).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Two interesting matches. Will try to catch some parts of both.

On paper Fokina is a player who should bring problems to Alcaraz, but this late in the tournament Carlos is the clear favorite.

Musetti has more clay credentials than de Minaur, but he must be doing something very right to give Dimitrov a double bagel (we call it a bicicle here in Brazil).

Well I also think Carlos is the favorite, though I am not at this late stage giving up on my dark horse Foki who I picked from the start of the tournament,
Agree Lorenzo has more clay credentials than Alex,though Alex wont go away lightly

 

[El Dude]

Three of the four semifinalists haven't won a Masters yet. Of course Alcaraz is the favorite, and no offense to him, but am definitely rooting against him. Would love to see one of the other three have the confidence boost or, at least, "do a Popyrin."