Monte Carlo Masters 2025: Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

Fasten your seatbelts for a blockbuster clash at the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters. Two-time semifinalist Alexander Zverev is all set to take on the Italian star Matteo Berrettini in the second round (R32) in just a few hours from now. Zverev had a stellar start to his season, reaching the final at the AO, but after that, his performance graph dropped quite significantly. He won only six out of his eleven matches since that match, and it also includes some of his matches on the South American clay swing. Recently, during an interview, the German admitted his struggles on this surface, but he also claimed, “I want to win the tournament, and I think I can win this tournament.” But to reach that stage, he first needs to overcome this Italian hurdle! Can Zverev beat Berrettini, who had a 15-1 record on clay last season, winning titles in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbuhel?

Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini: Preview

Alexander Zverev went down to Jannik Sinner in the AO final by 3-6,6(4)-7,3-6. But ever since the absence of the Italian on the Tour, it seems he has struggled under the weight of the expectation of snatching the top spot from Sinner. Although he reached the QF in Buenos Aires and Rio, he failed to win titles there. Even Zverev’s performance at the ‘Sunshine Doubles’ raised quite a few question marks, and he will now be entering this match following his 6-3,3-6,4-6 defeat to the Frenchman Arthur Fils in the R16.

Sep 10, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Alexander Zverev of Germany hits a backhand against Novak Djokovic of Serbia (not pictured) on day twelve of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, Matteo Berrettini arrived at this tournament on the back of a QF run in Miami. It was his first QF appearance at the ATP Masters level since 2021. However, in that match, he went down to America’s Taylor Fritz in a three-set thriller. But Berrettini has made a strong start in this tournament. He defeated Argentina’s Mariano Navarone in the R64 by 6-4,6-4. Other than his QF appearances in Miami, the Italian has also made it to the QF in Doha and Dubai. Can he now force an upset in Monte Carlo and make yet another deep run in a tournament this season?

Zverev vs Berrettini: Head-to-Head

Both Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini have crossed paths quite a few times in their careers. Currently, the German leads the H2H record against Berrettini by a 4-2 margin.

2023 Wimbledon R32: Berrettini 6-3,7-6(4),7-6(5). 2021 Nitto ATP Finals Round Robin: Zverev 7-6(7),1-0 RET. 2021 ATP Masters 1000 Madrid Final: Zverev 6(8)-7,6-4,6-3. 2019 ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai SF: Zverev 6-3,6-4. 2019 ATP Masters 1000 Rome R32: Berrettini 7-5,7-5. 2018 ATP Masters 1000 Rome R32: Zverev 7-5,6-2.

Prediction: Zverev will win this in three sets

Despite a bit of struggle in the last few tournaments, we must not forget that Alexander Zverev has a 2-1 record over Matteo Berrettini on clay. Not only that, he has also won 8 clay-court ATP titles in his career and reached the final of the French Open last year. So, Sascha is a real threat on the dirt! Currently, Zverev (2) has a win-loss record of 14-6 this season, but on the other hand, Berrettini (34) has recorded just 9-7. Zverev is keen to rectify his recent errors and make a strong start in his ninth appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters. 

Now, if we shift our focus to their playing styles, Berrettini is known for his aggressive, all-court style, characterized by a powerful serve and forehand, aiming to win points quickly. He is a ‘big serve, big forehand’ player with a focus on explosive power and minimizing running. Matteo Berrettini has already hit 201 aces this season! Apart from his lethal serves, he’s also known for his incredible serve and volley and picture-perfect drop shots on both wings.

On the other side, Alexander Zverev is known for his tenacious, aggressive baseline game, characterized by heavy groundstrokes and a strong serve, often employing a counter-punching style, waiting for openings to capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes. Other than his incredible forehand, Zverev’s backhand is also regarded as one of the best on the men’s Tour. So, considering all these aspects, I feel Sascha has more chances to excel on this surface than Berrettini. But having said that, I expect the Italian to give a tough fight to the number 2!

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