Carlos Alcaraz will play against Gael Monfils in the fourth round of the 2024 Shanghai Masters, and it would be an understatement to say that the Spaniard will be motivated to win.
The two fourth-round protagonists in Shanghai come from completely different generations. When Monfils won his first ATP point in 2003, Alcaraz was two months old.
A lot changed since then. The Frenchman has built an impressive resume for himself, a career that he will certainly look back on very proudly. Alcaraz, on the other hand, had just started his career, but he had already earned legendary status, at least according to Monfils.
The 38-year-old was full of praise for Alcaraz when they last met at the Cincinnati Open this year. And it will be that match that will serve as a great motivator for the Spaniard when they meet at the Shanghai Masters.
Alcaraz lost the match to Monfils in three sets, 6-4, 6-7(5), 4-6, and he was furious, both during and after the match. He smashed his racket during the match, and after the match, he admitted that he didn't want to be on the court.
Now, they will meet again, and it comes at a time when the World No. 2 player has been dominating his matches. He bested both Juncheng Shang and Yibing Wu without too many issues in Shanghai, and after winning the China Open, he could enjoy two unexpected days of rest after playing his last match on Sunday.
The rainy weather in Shanghai meant that many matches had to be postponed, meaning that Alcaraz's fourth-round match was also postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday, giving him a very important day of rest.
Monfils, on the other hand, has been very busy, beating Damir Dzumhur, 6-4, 6-3, Sebastian Baez, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, and also compatriot Ugo Humbert, 7-6(7), 2-6, 6-1.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Gael Monfils Head-to-head:
The two have met three times already, and the first two matches were very simple victories for Alcaraz. He won the first match at the 2022 Indian Wells Open, 7-5, 6-1, and he also bested Monfils this year in Miami, 6-2, 6-4.
Their third meeting was Alcaraz's notorious loss in Cincinnati, which he called the worst match of his tennis career. All matches were played on outdoor hardcourts, but all in slightly different conditions.
While the courts in Miami and Cincinnati are fast, the court in Indian Wells is very slow. The courts in Shanghai were similar to those in Miami and Cincinnati, but they were slowed down a bit this year, putting them somewhere between the two.
| Carlos Alcaraz | Gael Monfils | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | H2H | 1 |
| 2 | Rank | 46 |
| 21 | Age | 38 |
| 50-9 | 2024 W/L | 24-20 |
| 205-52 | Career W/L | 564-334 |
Carlos Alcaraz vs Gael Monfils Prediction:
Despite losing to Monfils the last time they played, anything but an easy win would be a major surprise for Alcaraz. He's in great form, beating one opponent after another and entering the match on an 11-match winning streak.
Monfils certainly has tools to trouble the Spaniard, but he, too, knows that he is a massive underdog.
Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz to win in two sets.
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