Alexei Popyrin vs Casper Ruud Preview & Prediction | 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters | First Round
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Alexei Popyrin faces Casper Ruud in the first-round of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Ranking points: ATP 1000
Start date/time:
Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
Surface: Outdoor clay
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – Tennis Channel
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Tennis Channel
Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Alexei Popyrin vs Casper Ruud ticket information
Alexei Popyrin vs Casper Ruud prediction
There were positives for Alexei Popyrin to take from his outing in Houston, as he won consecutive matches at tour-level for the first time this year and ended up reaching the quarter-finals. He was just a point away from reaching the last four, but his opponent Frances Tiafoe fought back and won the final three points of the deciding set tiebreak to advance. Popyrin performed well here last year, getting through to the quarter-finals.
He faces Casper Ruud in the first-round. The Norwegian lost his opening match at the Miami Open to Ethan Quinn, but he did fare better at Indian Wells, winning two matches before a loss in the round-of-16 to world number one Carlos Alcaraz. Ruud has only seven wins from his opening 14 matches of the season, but he will be hoping for an upturn of form on his favoured clay. He does have a relatively strong record at the event, making a final here two years ago.
Their only previous meeting occurred at this event in the third-round, and it was Popyrin that came out on top in three sets. Ruud will be looking to set the record straight with a win of his own.
Alexei Popyrin vs Casper Ruud tip: Casper Ruud to win
