Monte-Carlo 2023: Berrettini vs Cerundolo Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters second-round match featuring Matteo Berrettini vs Francisco Cerundolo on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Berrettini vs Cerundolo Match Preview and Prediction

Big-serving Italian Matteo Berrettini will play Argentina’s No. 1 player Francisco Cerundolo on Wednesday. Who will prevail and reach the third round of the Monte-Carlo Masters?

Matteo Berrettini outserved Maxime Cressy out of the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters, winning 6-4, 6-2. Berrettini’s experience at the top level on this surface helped him immensely here. He saved the two break points he faced in the match before going on to break Cressy three times in the match. The American served 16 double faults which is hardly a surprise considering his risk appetite to go big on the second serve. Berrettini will now attempt to reach the third round of this tournament for the first time when he takes on Francisco Cerundolo.

Francisco Cerundolo upset British No. 1 Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 for his second top-20 win of the season. The Argnetine’s first serve worked a treat here, winning 90% fist-serve points and only getting broken once in the match in spite of landing just 58% of those serves. Nonetheless, Cerundolo could make up for his poor showing in the Golden Swing at this week’s Monte-Carlo Masters if he can upset Matteo Berrettini.

Berrettini vs Cerundolo Prediction and Pick

Matteo Berrettini and Francisco Cerundolo have not played each other on the ATP Tour, with this second-round match at the Monte-Carlo Masters their first official meeting. Cerundolo’s stock is rising, although he’s been rather slow to get things going this year. Berrettini’s weapon is the serve which is a spine-chilling shot, but Cerundolo’s forehand stroke is a vastly energy-efficient shot. I can see this one going the full distance, with just a few break point chances and the player that stays clutch in the pressure moments will be rewarded. Given their respective records on clay since the start of 2022, Cerundolo will ultimately find a way past the Italian when the pressure cooker is at its hottest.