Time for payback?

Very interesting match between two French players with different playing styles, with their last meeting ending in a demolition by Corentin Moutet, 6–0 6–1 in Washington. Alexandre Muller was not in great shape during that match, and the match-up really favored Moutet. Today’s conditions are those of Monte Carlo, with heavy clay and players struggling to hit through the court. Alexandre Muller’s main issue is his slight lack of power, and he would be more comfortable playing against someone who injects pace into their shots and plays forward, which is not Moutet’s main characteristic. On this loose clay, the drop shot is a very important weapon because of the low bounce. Corentin Moutet is known for his excellent touch—Carlos Alcaraz even mentioned that Moutet has the best touch on tour. So, on paper, the match-up and conditions don’t favor Muller. However, Corentin Moutet’s current form is different; he’s not at his best, with inconsistent performances and injuries earlier in the year. He’s coming off a loss in Marrakech where he was too passive. So it’s tricky to take a firm position on this match. If I had to make a guess, it would be that Moutet comes in with more desire than in Marrakech. We’re at a big tournament, a Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo. The motivation should be higher, and playing in front of a French crowd should also help him. I would make Corentin a slight favorite, and in my opinion, this is a match to follow live.