TennisSection previews the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters as Marin Cilic takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round on Monday, April 11th, 2022.
Fresh from announcing his imminent retirement from tennis at next month’s Roland Garros, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will have nothing to lose when he trudges to the court one last time at the Monte-Carlo Masters. But can the wild card defy the odds to defeat Croatia’s Marin Cilic in a very tough opener?
Marin Cilic began the year in brilliant fashion with back-to-back semifinal showings in two Adelaide tournaments. Then at the Australian Open, he reached the fourth round, mastering World No. 8 Andrey Rublev in the process. But since losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime in Melbourne, Cilic has been left pondering on whether his resurgence was short-lived. He has failed to win successive matches at four tournaments, and consequently, his charge towards a Top 20 ranking has come to halt. Cilic will have to rekindle that form when he makes his first outing on clay at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s name dominated the tennis papers this past week following his public confession that next month’s Roland Garros will be his last tournament. Tsonga will bring the curtain down to a tennis career that spans two decades, filled with ever-lasting moments of brilliance to the tennis fraternity and multiple titles in his trophy cabinet. The Frenchman toiled with a multitude of injuries in the last three years before his body finally gave in. Tsonga’s decision has not really come as a shock. He is fit again, but he was clearly not as competitive as he used to be. And the fact that he won’t be able to hit those levels anymore fuelled his retirement decision.
Marin Cilic owns a commanding 6-2 record over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. That includes a straight sets win in Davis Cup final singles rubber in 2018 on an indoor clay court. Tsonga will be cautious of his body in the next few weeks as he cannot risk it all and potentially miss out on a befitting sendoff at the French Open. He will certainly fight with gusto and grit, but this was such a tough draw for him. Expect Cilic to steamroll his way into the second round.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Marin Cilic to win in straight sets.
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