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  • Monte-Carlo Second Round: Nicolas Almagro vs. Juan Monaco

    4/23/08 4:49 AM | Ricky Dimon
    - Juan Monaco probably thought it was a good omen playing in Monte-Carlo, Monaco this week, but the draw certainly did not do him any favors. Clay-court wizard Nicolas Almagro is up next in a blockbuster second-round clash.

    Two clay-court masters will do battle in marquee second-round matchup at the Masters Series Monte-Carlo on Tuesday. Sure Almagro just blasted Monaco 6-3, 6-2 last week in Valencia, but Monaco has no business getting dismantled like that by anyone on the red stuff. The fact that Monaco won their first meeting—last year in Buenos Aires also on clay—should give him some hope on Wednesday. The third ever head-to-headed meeting between Almagro and Monaco should produce a much closer score than the Valencia result.

    Monaco is going to have to pick up his game, however, as it looks unlikely that Almagro’s level will drop. Almagro has already won clay-court titles this season in Costa Do Sauipe, Brazil and Acapulco, Mexico. The Spaniard also reached the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires and the final in Valencia, where he lost a thriller to David Ferrer. A consistent force on clay over the past few years, Almagro is really on fire on the slow stuff in 2008 and outside of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, he has to be considered a top contender for any clay-court title.

    Monaco really broke onto the ATP scene last season, but unlike Almagro, he has only been solid rather than spectacular in 2008. The Argentine’s best performance came at the clay-court event in Vina del Mar, Chile, but an injury sustained in doubles prevented Monaco from playing in the singles final against Fernando Gonzalez. Other than that his efforts on the dirt have been mediocre this year, although he did make it to the quarterfinals in Valencia before losing to Almagro.

    Wednesday’s match, unlike last week’s surprising rout, should be a grueling baseline grand that tests the players’ stamina. Both players can spend all day at the back of the court in relentless groundstroke rallies. The difference once again, however, could be the Almagro one-handed backhand. Monaco does not possess a weapon like that, so Almagro has an easier time of finishing off points if his opponent does not keep the ball deep. Expect Almagro to prevail, but count on him at least being tested this time around.

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