Day 1 Preview: Dimitrov Headlines Monte-Carlo Action

Day one of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will see former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov, 2019 finalist Dusan Lajovic and 15th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili take to court in first-round singles action at the third ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.

View Schedule | View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw

G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs [15] N. Basilashvili (GEO)

Former semi-finalist Dimitrov will kick off his campaign Sunday when he faces 15th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili on Court Rainier III in Monte-Carlo. Dimitrov has a strong record on the clay in Monaco, having reached the last four in 2018 and advanced to the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2015.

The Bulgarian, who is making his ninth appearance in Monte-Carlo, has earned wins against 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, former World No. 7 Fernando Verdasco and World No. 6 Matteo Berrettini at the tournament over the years and arrives this week in confident mood, after advancing to the quarter-finals in Indian Wells last month.

Dimitrov leads Basilashvili 1-0 in their ATP Head2Head series, but that meeting came back in 2017 on hard in Sofia. Georgian Basilashvili has never been beyond the first round in three previous appearances in Monte-Carlo.

D. Lajovic (SRB) vs F. Krajinovic (SRB)

Dusan Lajovic will take on Filip Krajinovic in an all-Serbian battle, with the latter leading their ATP Head2Head series 2-1. Krajinovic, who advanced to the third round in Monaco in 2021, downed Lajovic in three sets in the first round in Indian Wells in March.

Lajovic will provide stiff competition in Monte-Carlo, though, having soared to his only Masters 1000 final at the tournament in 2019. The World No. 48 upset seeds Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev before falling to Italian Fabio Fognini in the championship match.

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

📺 TV Schedule
🎾 Watch Live On Tennis TV
📱 Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App
📧 Sign Up For Newsletters

A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs M. Giron (USA)

Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and American Marcos Giron will kick off the main-draw action on Court Rainier III in what will be the first ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair.

Davidovich Fokina defeated Alex de Minaur, Berrettini and Lucas Pouille en route to the quarter-finals last season and will be aiming to snap a three-match losing streak against Giron. Meanwhile, the American is making his Monte-Carlo debut.

M. Fucsovics (HUN) vs L. Harris (RSA)

Hungarian Marton Fucsovics and South African Lloyd Harris will round off the main-draw singles action when they compete on Court des Princes. The pair are tied at 2-2 in their ATP Head2Head series, with Fucsovics winning their most recent meeting in Doha in February. The World No. 57 will be competing for the fourth time on the clay in Monte-Carlo, while Harris is making his debut.

Other Action

#NextGenATP Czech Jiri Lehecka will be aiming to reach the main draw at a Masters 1000 event for the first time when he takes on Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in the final qualifying round, while singles stars Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner will begin their doubles campaign against Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev.

SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, 10 APRIL 2022

COURT RAINIER III start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [WC] F. Cobolli (ITA) vs [11] E. Ruusuvuori (FIN)

Not Before 1:00 pm
A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs M. Giron (USA)
G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs [15] N. Basilashvili (GEO)
D. Lajovic (SRB) vs F. Krajinovic (SRB)

COURT DES PRINCES start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [1] B. Bonzi (FRA) vs J. Lehecka (CZE)
Qualifying – H. Dellien (BOL) vs [Alt] T. Daniel (JPN)
M. Fucsovics (HUN) vs L. Harris (RSA)
[WC] M. Melo (BRA) / A. Zverev (GER) vs H. Hurkacz (POL) / J. Sinner (ITA)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [7] O. Otte (GER) vs [10] J. Munar (ESP)
Qualifying – [4] S. Baez (ARG) vs [9] K. Majchrzak (POL)
T. Brkic (BIH) / N. Cacic (SRB) vs [PR] F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) / S. Wawrinka (SUI)
K. Khachanov / A. Rublev vs [5] T. Puetz (GER) / M. Venus (NZL)

COURT 9 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [Alt] B. Zapata Miralles (ESP) vs [13] J. Sousa (POR)
Qualifying – [6] M. Cressy (USA) or [WC] L. Van Assche (FRA) vs [Alt] R. Albot (MDA) or [14] H. Rune (DEN)
[8] M. Arevalo (ESA) / J. Rojer (NED) vs A. de Minaur (AUS) / C. Norrie (GBR)