The action at the Monte Carlo Masters continues today, with the third-round competition. Here are the previews for two of the day’s most interesting matchups. See our betting predictions for Lorenzo Musetti vs. Valentin Vacherot and Joao Fonseca vs. Arthur Rinderknech.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Valentin Vacherot
Time: 14:30 CEST (approx.)
Venue: Court Rainier III
One of the top seed vs the home crowd hope of the tournament. Lorenzo Musetti, the fourth seed and last year’s runner-up, faces Monaco’s own Valentin Vacherot in a clash with some ranking implications.
Musetti is defending a massive amount of points after reaching the final here in 2025. However, he arrives with major question marks over his fitness, having barely played since a mid-match retirement against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals. He says he’s back in full fitness and it will be interesting to have the elegant Italian back for the clay season.
Vacherot is playing the best tennis of his life. Currently ranked at a career-high (No. 23) and coming off a historic Masters title in Shanghai late last year, he has the full support of the home crowd. He showed a lot of fighting spirit in his extreme first-round comeback win over Juan Manuel Cerundolo where he almost looked defeated in the beginning of the 2nd set.
Predictions: Musetti is by far the better clay-courter overall when healthy, but Vacherot is match-tough and will like the challenge. If Musetti shows any rust, the Monegasque is perfectly positioned to pull off the upset. A tough match to predict, I like the odds of a 2-1 set betting win for the Italian at 3.60 (+260).
Joao Fonseca vs. Arthur Rinderknech
Time: 12:10 CEST (approx.)
Venue: Court des Princes
So, one most exciting young prospects against a seasoned French veteran and it’s their first ever meeting on tour. Both players are coming off good first-round wins.
19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca (image on top) continues to turn heads and he has quite a decent draw in this Masters event. Some say he’s a bit overhyped but he’s once again starting to show why, following a slow period a few months ago. He is now also proving that his game can translate from hard courts to the red clay.
Arthur Rinderknech produced one of the results of the opening round by taking out the 12th seed, Karen Khachanov, 7-5, 6-2. Known for his big serve and net-rushing tactics, Rinderknech will try to use all of his experience to disrupt Fonseca’s rhythm.
Predictions: Rinderknech relies heavily on his first serve to shorten points. If Fonseca can neutralise that serve and get the Frenchman into extended cross-court exchanges, he should have the edge in many parts of the game with his movement. Rinderknech has not looked great this season following a good 2025 and I think this one will be difficult for him on clay. Fonseca to win and progress to the next round.
