Richard Gasquet vs Dominic Thiem Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Monte Carlo Masters

Prediction published on 09/04/2023, 13:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/04/2023 at 14:12 in Tennis Predictions

Dominic Thiem takes on Richard Gasquet in the Monte Carlo Masters first round. Thiem has struggled to make his way back up the rankings after missing time due to injury. He hasn't had a good year so far but there were some encouraging signs in Estoril last week. The Austrian won two matches before being beaten in the last eight by Quentin Halys. His second win came against second seeded Ben Shelton but he's still only 108th in the live rankings. He's received a wild card into this tournament and was a quarter finalist here in 2018. This is only the second time he's played in this outdoor clay court tournament since then. The winner of this match takes on sixth seeded Holger Rune in the second round, so even if Thiem can get past Gasquet, he faces a far tougher battle next time out.

Richard Gasquet is at 43rd place in the live rankings. He didn't do well in Marrakech last week where he was the sixth seed. The 36-year-old lost in the first round to Andre Muller who went on to be the losing finalist. His 2023 began well when winning the hard court title in Auckland but it's been downhill since then. Gasquet has played eight tournaments since then and hasn't won two matches in any of them. He's getting towards the end of his career and has been playing the French Open since 2002 with just one last eight appearance seven years ago. It's also eight years since he won a clay court tournament. The pair have met four times in the past with Gasquet winning the first two in 2015 and 2017. Thiem has won the two played since then but all have been on hard courts. Back Thiem to get a win here.