tennis | Thursday, April 13, 2023 8:22 PM (Revised at: Thursday, April 13, 2023 10:19 PM)

Friday Tennis Best Bet: ATP Monte Carlo, Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz

Jon Reid

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz Best Bet: FRIday, April 14th

No result for the match from Monte Carlo, as Matteo Berrettini was clearly impacted by the long, drawn-out match on Wednesday more than anticipated and withdrew before the match took place.

For the last article of the week, we’ll preview the match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz.

In this article:

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz Preview
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz Best Bet

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz Preview

April 14th, 11:30 (UK Time)

We’re down to the final eight in Monte Carlo at the year’s first Masters event played on clay.

It’s the second straight year Fritz has reached this stage of the event, after he lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from a set up in 2022.

A lot of the success in Monte Carlo may be attributed to the lack of quality in the opposition he’s played, but he has earned that right by virtue of his ranking.

Friday’s contest with Tsitsipas will be the toughest test he’s faced in Monte Carlo in quite some time, and it’s not one I’d expect much out of from the American.

Along with the French Open, this event in the French Riviera is one of Tsitsipas’ most successful. He’s won each of the last two editions, and dropped just one set combined in his 2021 and 2022 runs.

The slow clay is perfect for his game, while Fritz has yet to really prove his pedigree on the dirt against top competition.

Further, the American has started relatively slowly in both of his previous matches this week. He had to save five set points against Stanislas Wawrinka in the opening set in round two, and then he dropped the opening set to Jiri Lehecka in his round of 16 tilt. Needless to say, Tsitsipas is a big step up from a youngster with consistency issues and an older Wawrinka who faded down the stretch.

I also think that the 24-year-old matches up well with Fritz. He is far better on the clay, can serve with him and match him when it comes to hitting forehands, doesn’t have consistency issues and is far more athletic and reliable at net than Fritz’s previous opponents.

In terms of being prepared for that big first delivery Fritz possesses, Tsitsipas is coming off a match with Chilean Nicolas Jarry. While he may not be as well-rounded or talented as Fritz, he does have a very strong first serve and forehand combination.
Conversely, Tsitsipas also has the power and heavy shot to trouble Fritz. We’ve seen him struggle in both matches with clay courters that can combine pace with that heavy ball, and Tsitsipas’ elite ability to do both should put him away if he stumbles.
Finally, entering the event, Tsitsipas had some concerns surrounding his shoulder. It had severely impacted his ability to hit non-slice backhands at Indian Wells, as well as Miami, leading to early exits.

He did make it clear before play had begun he felt much better, and he reiterated that point in an interview with Tennis Channel following this second match of the week, where he took down Jarry, saying it’s back to 100%.With those comments and the fact that he hasn’t even played three complete sets in two matches thanks to the first-set retirement of Benjamin Bonzi in the second round, I’m not too concerned anything will flare up mid-match in that regard.

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz Best Bet

While Tsitsipas is often a player I enjoy opposing on quicker surfaces when he’s a favourite, thanks to the fact that he can struggle for stretches on return against big servers, it’s not nearly as much of a concern on clay that isn’t played at altitude.

His weaknesses are masked, his athleticism thrives, he can still serve and hit through the slower surface with his serve and forehand and the difference in comfort is noticeable.

Fritz has done well to reach this point, but his bona fides on clay are far from being up to the task to compete with the Greek No. 1 for my money.

I’ll happily take the three-game handicap with Tsitsipas, despite other favourites having let me down this week.