An intriguing second-round battle is on the horizon at the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters as Alexander Zverev takes on Matteo Berrettini within hours. Zverev, a two-time semifinalist here, started the season strong with an Australian Open final but has since struggled for consistency. Despite this, he confidently declared his ambition to win the tournament. Standing in his way is Berrettini, who was dominant on clay last year with a remarkable 15-1 record and three titles. Will Zverev’s ambition prevail, or will Berrettini’s clay prowess prove too much?

Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini: Preview

Alexander Zverev went down to Jannik Sinner in the AO final by 3-6,6(4)-7,3-6. But ever since the absence of the Italian on the Tour, it seems he has struggled under the weight of the expectation of snatching the top spot from Sinner.

Although he reached the QF in Buenos Aires and Rio, he failed to win titles there. Even Zverev’s performance at the ‘Sunshine Doubles’ raised quite a few question marks. Nonetheless, he will now be entering this match following his 6-3,3-6,4-6 defeat to the Frenchman Arthur Fils in the R16 in Miami.

On the other hand, Matteo Berrettini arrived at this tournament on the back of a QF run in Miami. It was his first QF appearance at the ATP Masters level since 2021. However, in that match, he went down to America’s Taylor Fritz in a three-set thriller. Other than his QF appearances in Miami, the Italian has also made it to the QF in Doha and Dubai.

But Berrettini has made a strong start in this tournament. He defeated Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the R64 by 6-4,6-4.

Zverev vs Berrettini: Head-to-Head

Both Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini have crossed paths quite a few times in their careers. Currently, the German leads the H2H record against Italian by a 4-2 margin.

• 2023 Wimbledon R32: Berrettini 6-3,7-6(4),7-6(5).
• 2021 Nitto ATP Finals Round Robin: Zverev 7-6(7),1-0 RET.
• 2021 ATP Masters 1000 Madrid Final: Zverev 6(8)-7,6-4,6-3.
• 2019 ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai SF: Zverev 6-3,6-4.
• 2019 ATP Masters 1000 Rome R32: Berrettini 7-5,7-5.
• 2018 ATP Masters 1000 Rome R32: Zverev 7-5,6-2.

Prediction: Zverev will win this in three sets

It’s been two years since their last encounter, a straight-sets Wimbledon victory for Matteo Berrettini over Alexander Zverev. While grass favored the Italian then, the dynamic shifts to clay today.

Despite some recent struggles, Zverev holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage against Berrettini on this surface. Furthermore, his impressive record of 8 ATP clay titles and a Roland Garros final appearance last year clearly establishes him as a significant force on the dirt.

Currently, Zverev (2) has a win-loss record of 14-6 this season, but on the other hand, Berrettini (34) has recorded just 9-7. Zverev is keen to rectify his recent errors and make a strong start in his ninth appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters. 

Now, if we shift our focus to their playing styles, Berrettini is known for his aggressive, all-court style, characterized by a powerful serve and forehand, aiming to win points quickly. He is a ‘big serve, big forehand’ player with a focus on explosive power and minimizing running. Berrettini has already hit 201 aces this season! Apart from his lethal serves, he’s also known for his incredible serve and volley and picture-perfect drop shots on both wings.

On the other side, Alexander Zverev is known for his tenacious, aggressive baseline game, characterized by heavy groundstrokes and a strong serve, often employing a counter-punching style, waiting for openings to capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes. Other than his incredible forehand, Zverev’s backhand is also regarded as one of the best on the men’s Tour.

So, considering all these aspects, I feel Sascha has more chances to excel on this surface than Berrettini. But having said that, I expect the Italian to give a tough fight to the number 2!