Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Monte Carlo match.
Stefanos Tsitsipas continues his title defence in Monte Carlo, a tournament he has won three times and where he consistently delivers high-quality performances. His recent win over Jordan Thompson, though hard-fought, should give the Greek valuable momentum as he aims to lift the trophy once again. Nuno Borges has already exceeded expectations by edging out Pedro Martinez Portero in a marathon match, but now faces an opponent of significantly higher level.
Nuno Borges
The Portuguese player endured a gruelling three-set battle against Pedro Martinez Portero, which lasted over three hours. Nuno Borges registered 66 unforced errors and managed to convert just five of his 17 break points. He has struggled against top-20 players, having lost six of his last eight encounters against such opposition. He has faced Stefanos Tsitsipas once before — also on clay — and was defeated in straight sets (3:6, 3:6).
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas came through a challenging match against Jordan Thompson, but crucially, he has had an extra day to recover. The Greek is a proven clay-court performer and boasts a dominant recent record in round of 16 matches at Masters events on this surface, winning 19 of his last 20. He claimed the title in Monte Carlo last year and is well-placed to repeat that success, being one of the top four seeds and set to face lower-ranked opponents en route to the final.
Nuno Borges vs Stefanos Tsitsipas Prediction
After such a physically taxing match, Nuno Borges is unlikely to mount a serious challenge against the three-time Monte Carlo champion. Stefanos Tsitsipas brings greater experience and composure on clay, and with a prior straight-sets win over Nuno Borges on this surface, the favourite looks well-positioned to secure another routine victory.
