Monte-Carlo Masters 2022: Grigor Dimitrov vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina preview, head-to-head and prediction
Match Details
Fixture: Grigor Dimitrov vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Date: 16 April 2022.
Tournament: Monte-Carlo Masters 2022.
Round: Semifinals.
Venue: Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Category: ATP Masters 1000.
Surface: Clay.
Prize money: €5,802,475.
Match timing: Not before 1:30 pm local time, 7:30 am ET, 12:30 pm BST, 5 pm IST.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Voot.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina preview
Former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will square off in an exciting semi-final showdown at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters.
Dimitrov has made a great start to his clay season. He progressed to the second round in Monaco after his first-round opponent, Nikoloz Basilashvili, retired midway through the second set. The Bulgarian then had to stage a comeback to oust Dusan Lajovic in three sets in the second round.
Dimitrov was up against World No. 7 and one of the favorites for the title, Casper Ruud, in the third round. He defeated him 6-3, 7-5 to score his first top-10 win of the year. In the quarterfinals, the 2017 ATP Finals champion had to dig deep yet again to win against Hubert Hurkacz. He defeated the Pole with a scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2).
Dimitrov has reached the last four of the Monte-Carlo Masters for the second time in his career, having previously done so in 2018.
GO GO GRIGOR
@GrigorDimitrov defeats Hurkacz to reach the @ROLEXMCMASTERS semi-finals! https://t.co/jpULTSqWqq
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has attracted plenty of attention with his giant-killing spree at the Monte-Carlo Masters. He started off with a straight-sets win over Marcos Giron in the first round.
The Spaniard was up against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the second round. Despite the Serb playing in his first tournament in almost two months, he was considered the favorite to win. But Davidovich Fokina upset Djokovic in three sets to secure the biggest win of his career. He then eased past David Goffin, who won the Grand Prix Hassan II last week, in straight sets.
Breaking new ground in STYLE 📊
@alexdavidovich1 is into his first-ever Masters 1000 semi-final - taking down Fritz 2-6 6-4 6-3 at #RolexMCMasters! https://t.co/vZnq5UXJ3O
Davidovich Fokina squared off against 2022 Indian Wells Open champion Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals. He knocked out the American in three sets to advance to his maiden semifinal at the ATP Masters 1000 level.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina head-to-head
Davidovich Fokina leads Dimitrov 1-0 in the head-to-head. He won their only encounter in straight sets at the 2021 Italian Open.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina prediction
Davidovich Fokina will be aiming to reach his maiden ATP final, but he'll have to first find a way past the experienced Dimitrov. The Bulgarian has had some decent results on clay in the past, but isn't as comfortable on the surface as his opponent.
Both players knocked out higher-ranked opponents in the previous round and held their nerve to when things looked dire for them. For Davidovich Fokina, an area of concern would be his inability to take advantage of opportunities. He won just four of 19 break points in his previous match and must be more efficient against Dimitrov.
Davidovich Fokina could also feel the pressure of reaching his maiden final. But if he doesn't crumble mentally, he stands a good chance of winning this match.
Prediction: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to win in three sets.