Two titans are about to clash in the round of 16 of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev are set to play and continue their rivalry on the clay court. Both players were in different forms when they tackled the hard-court tournaments earlier this year. Transitioning to clay can turn the tables very quickly for those who find it difficult to adapt. 

Zverev has performed great this season, as he managed to eliminate Carlos Alcaraz from the Australian Open. However, Tsitsipas does not experience the same luck as his German opponent.

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alexander Zverev: Preview

Tsitsipas has had a season rife with difficulties. A fourth-round exit waited for him in the Australian Open, which was followed by a round of 16 exits in the Indian Wells Masters and a second round loss in the Miami Open. Now, he is looking to turn his season around in the Monte-Carlo Masters. He began the tournament playing against Laslo Djere and led the clash, but the Serb retired in the second set. Their match ended with 3 aces and 2 double faults for Tsitsipas, with a 73% win on first serve and three break points to take home.

He then faced Tomás Martín Etcheverry and demolished the Argentinian 6-1, 6-0. Tsitsipas put 2 serves past Etcheverry. However, his first serve win percentage was only 53%, while he won 83% in the second serve. He also won 6 break points and won 12 games in a row, which paints a positive picture for the Greek star. 

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Zverev has continued his great form from 2023. He thumped Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open but lost his footing in the Los Cabos and suffered a first-round defeat in the Mexican Open. In Indian Wells, he ran to the quarterfinal, with a semifinal run in the Miami Open. Coming to Monte-Carlo, Zverev beat Sebastian Ofner in the round of 32.

Despite being one of the best servers on tour, Zverev only managed to put one ace past Ofner albeit without any double faults. He managed to win 79% points on his first serve and 73% on his second serve. While pushing Ofner to 9 breakpoints, he managed to win 3 and gave 1 breakpoint away. 

Tsitsipas vs Zverev: Head-to-Head

Tsitsipas and Zverev have a great rivalry against each other. The two players have met each other 14 times on the ATP Tour. The Greek player leads the rivalry with 9 wins over Zverev’s 5. They have fought five times on clay, with their first clay match being held in the 2019 Madrid Open, where Tsitsipas was the victor in three sets. He would also go on to win in the 2021 French Open, 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters and the Italian Open. Zverev won the bout in the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters and is now eager to repeat his feat. 

The results of the rest of their matches have been:

• Washington Open 2018 semifinal: Zverev 6-2, 6-4
• Canadian Open 2018 quarterfinal: Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
• Beijing Open 2019 semifinal: Tsitsipas 7-6, 6-4
• ATP Finals 2019 round robin: Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2
• ATP Cup 2020 round robin: Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-4
• Acapulco 2021 final: Zverev 6-4, 7-6
• Cincinnati Open 2021: Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6
• Paris Masters 2023: Tsitsipas 7-6, 6-4

In 2024, they played one match in the United Cup, which Zverev won 6-4, 6-4. The two haven’t played on clay in two years, but they will continue their rivalry in the ongoing Monte-Carlo Masters.  

Prediction: Tsitsipas to upset Zverev

While Zverev has had a better stint in the 2024 season so far, Tsitsipas stepped into Monte-Carlo with the motivation to win. The Greek player has had a topsy-turvy career in the last few months, and he is looking to change it. On the other hand, Zverev is looking to continue his fantastic form in Monte Carlo. While both players are coming off of a great victory, Tsitsipas had a much better performance in the previous round.

Etcheverry ranked higher than Zverev’s opponent Ofner, could only manage to take one game from Tsitsipas. Not only did he show clear dominance, but Tsitsipas also grew up playing on clay, where he excelled. From their H2H, we can see that Tsitsipas also dominates on clay. He has a much better chance of victory than his German opponent if he continues the momentum he found in the previous match.

However, Zverev is not going to be an easy opponent. His fast-paced serves will slow down on the dirt, but they will also prove to be troublesome for Tsitsipas. The Greek player also showed trouble in his first serves, which can become a place where Zverev can take advantage as he has solid returns. Regardless of the victor, we are bound to witness a great clash between two players who are in 100% health.

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