Monte-Carlo 2023: Andrey Rublev vs Taylor Fritz Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters semifinal match featuring Andrey Rublev vs Taylor Fritz on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Rublev vs Fritz Match Preview and Prediction

Will Andrey Rublev reach a second Monte-Carlo Masters final? Or will Taylor Fritz’s magical run at the Principality extend beyond Saturday?

Andrey Rublev was the first player to confirm his place in the semifinal of the Monte-Carlo Masters, ending the great run of German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets. After dropping the first game of the opening set, Rublev went on a rampage and moved Struff around the court. Mobility is not Struff’s biggest asset and he struggled to find his range on serve, with Rublev fashioning 14 break chances, highlighting the immense pressure he was under the whole afternoon. Rublev converted four break points and won the second set in a tiebreak. Will he scale the Taylor Fritz test?

Taylor Fritz, meanwhile, knocked out two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, in the most shocking result of the day. Fritz, widely regarded as the weakest clay-courter inside the current top 10, has showcased his talent this week at the Monte-Carlo Masters, taking down three premier performers on the surface including Stan Wawrinka and now Stefanos Tsitsipas. Victory over the Greek was Fritz’s first clay-court win against a top-10 player, and he’ll need to defeat Andrey Rublev to make it two, and advance into Sunday’s showpiece at the Principality.

Rublev vs Fritz Prediction and Pick

Taylor Fritz leads Andrey Rublev 4-2 in their head-to-head. However, their semifinal match at the Monte-Carlo Masters will be their first collision on clay. Both players are straightforward in how they play and don’t incorporate too much variety from the baseline. Fritz has been the most clutch player this week without a doubt. His superior serve has bailed him out of trouble for the most part, saving 12 of 15 break points he has faced in his run to the last four. That might just be the difference-maker on Saturday.