Carlos Alcaraz vs. Francisco Cerundolo: Where to Watch, Monte Carlo Preview

Where to Watch

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Francisco Cerundolo

🖥️📱 Click here for live coverage on TennisChannel.com (United States only; estimated start time 6:10 a.m. ET)

The winner of this match will face either wild card Richard Gasquet or qualifier Daniel Altmaier in the round of 16.

👉 Click here for the complete Monte Carlo bracket.

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Preview

In my tournament preview, I wrote that Stefanos Tsitsipas’s success in Monte Carlo—three titles in four years—is one of the odder ATP facts of this decade. Now we have another: Alcaraz, a Roland Garros champion and natural clay-courter, has never won a match at this tournament.

It hasn’t helped his cause that he has played it just once, in 2022, when he went out in his opener to Sebastian Korda. In 2023 and 2024, with titles in Indian Wells under his belt, and injuries bothering him, Alcaraz skipped the Principality and started his Roland Garros preparation later. This year, he comes in after going winless during the Sunshine Double, and after an opening-round loss in Miami that left him feeling “dreadful.”

All of which is to say that Alcaraz could use his first win in Monte Carlo more than ever. But Cerundolo won’t be the easiest person to get it against. The Argentine was in form last month, making the quarters in Indian Wells and Miami, and, as you can guess from his country of origin, he’s comfortable on clay—two of his three career titles have come on the surface.

Cerundolo beat Alcaraz in their only clay-court meeting, at a small Spanish Challenger in 2019. But Alcaraz has won their two ATP encounters, the most recent in Indian Wells last month. Cerundolo went up a break in the second set that day, but couldn’t hold the lead.

Will his ability, or inability, to close be the difference again in Monte Carlo? Cerundolo can trade forehands with Alcaraz, and stay with him from the ground on clay. And Alcaraz is always prone to phases of wildness. But if Cerundolo gets a lead, can he hang onto it? I’m guessing Alcaraz’s motivation to get his game back on track will prevail. Winner: Alcaraz

Alcaraz vs. Cerundolo: Betting Odds

Alcaraz is a -400 moneyline favorite; Cerundolo is a +280 underdog.

To win the second set, Alcaraz is -295 and Cerundolo +200.

(Odds from BetMGM as of 4:45 pm ET on Tuesday, April 8.)

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