Monte-Carlo 2023: Wawrinka vs Griekspoor Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters first-round match featuring Stan Wawrinka vs Tallon Griekspoor on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Wawrinka vs Griekspoor Match Preview and Prediction

2014 champion Stan Wawrinka opens his bid for a second title at the Monte-Carlo Masters against rising Dutch star Tallon Griekspoor. Will the Swiss veteran pass a tough first set at the Principality?

Stan Wawrinka at the peak of his powers, powered to his only Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo in 2014, defeating his countryman Roger Federer. Wawrinka has played the Monte Carlo Masters five more times since, making the quarterfinal in 2016, but has not managed to win successive matches at the tournament. Can he snap that run this week as he looks ahead to a tough opening round against Tallon Griekspoor?

Tallon Griekspoor didn’t have a pleasant week in Marrakech, running out of patience with multiple rain delays, and then losing his quarterfinal match to eventual champion Roberto Carballes Baena. If he plays at a similar level, there’s a chance he might not hurt Stan Wawrinka at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Wawrinka vs Griekspoor Prediction and Pick

Tallon Griekspoor leads Stan Wawrinka 1-0 in their head-to-head. The Dutchman stunned Wawrinka in the first round of Rotterdam in 2018 in three sets. Griekspoor has since risen to a career-high #35 coming to the Monte-Carlo Masters, so he cannot be overlooked from beating Wawrinka again. But with that said, the moneyline market looks a tad risky here given the state of Wawrinka’s level and form is unknown on the clay this year, and Griekspoor is coming off a mentally and physically draining week in Marrakech. We’ll take the Wawrinka set handicap +1.5 which looks like the feasible pick here.