Fabio Fognini vs Filip Krajinovic Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Monte Carlo Masters

Prediction published on 14/04/2021, 14:58  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 14/04/2021 at 16:26 in Tennis Predictions

World number 37 Filip Krajinovic takes on Fabio Fognini in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters. His opponent may only be seeded 15th for this event but he is the defending champion. Will Thursday be the day he loses his crown? The Serb has only played three tournaments before this event and surprisingly, it's his first on clay. He had great success on this surface on the Challenger tour with 10 titles and 12 other finals. 2019 saw him get to an ATP Tour final on clay in Hungar where he beat Borna Coric before losing a three-setter to Matteo Berrettini in the final. He made it to the last 32 of the Australian Open this year, losing to Daniil Medvedev. One win in his two other tournaments but he was unlucky to face eventual finalist Lloyd Harris in Dubai. Krajinovic has only dropped four games on his way to the third round in Monte Carlo. He beat Doha winner Nikoloz Basilashvili in round one with his opponent retiring in the second set. The Serb then beat Juan Ignacio Londero in round two.

The last Monte Carlo Masters was held in 2019 and it was Italian Fabio Fognini who won the title. He takes on world number 37 Filip Krajinovic in the third round of this year's event. Fognini has slipped to 17th in the rankings and is seeded 15th for this tournament, with his opponent unseeded. The Italian beat Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal and Dusan Lajovic to win the 2019 title. He hasn't really followed up on that clay court success and lost in the first round of the French Open. He's had some poor results on this surface at other tournaments with a few losses to players ranked well outside the top 100. Last week he took part in the Andalucia Open and lost to Jaume Munar in his first match. Form has improved a bit in Monte Carlo with straight sets victories over Miomir Kecmanovic and Jamie Thompson. He has had a couple of previous meetings with Krajinovic and lost them both. The only clay court meeting was in 2014 with Fognini losing in straight sets. He also failed to win a set when losing on a hard court to the Serb in Basel. This looks a close match, the odds reflect that. Fognini hasn't had a great year and does tend to lose to lower ranked players. Go for Krajinovic to win this, a side bet on three sets in the match might also be a winner.