Monte-Carlo 2023: Cameron Norrie vs Francisco Cerundolo preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (11) Cameron Norrie vs Francisco Cerundolo

Tournament: Monte Carlo 2023

Date: Sunday, April 9

Round: First Round (Round of 56)

Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club, Monaco

Category: Masters 1000

Surface: Outdoor clay

Prize money: €5,779,335

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel, TC Plus/ UK - Amazon Prime Video

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Cameron Norrie vs Francisco Cerundolo preview

Norrie is having a good season.

Eleventh seed Cameron Norrie opens his Monte Carlo campaign against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo.

The 13th-ranked Norrie is 21-5 on the season, having won the title at Rio de Janeiro (ATP 500). He has also reached the finals in Auckland (lost to Richard Gasquet) and the Argentina Open (lost to Carlos Alcaraz) and the last eight at Indian Wells.

However, the left-hander is coming off an opening-round loss at Miami two weeks ago, having made the Australian Open third round earlier in the season. He's 2-2 in Monte Carlo, with both wins coming in 2019. Norrie lost in the opening round last year.

Meanwhile, World No. 33 Cerundolo has made an 11-9 start to 2023, making the quarterfinals in Miami last week. The 24-year-old opened his season with successive losses at the inaugural United Cup before reaching the Australian Open third round.

Cerundolo then made the quarterfinals in Cordoba and Buenos Aires before stumbling in the Round of 16 in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago. The Argentine is making his debut in Monte Carlo.

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Cameron Norrie vs Francisco Cerundolo head-to-head

Norrie took his lone meeting against Cerundolo in the Lyon Round of 16 last year, emerging victorious in straight sets.

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Cameron Norrie vs Francisco Cerundolo odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games (over/under)
Cameron Norrie	-185	-1.5 (+125)	Over 21.5 (-110)
Francisco Cerundolo	+140	+1.5 (-175)	Under 21.5 (-125)

(All odds as per BETMGM)

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Cameron Norrie vs Francisco Cerundolo prediction

Cerundolo is making his Monte Carlo debut.

Both Norrie and Cerundolo like to dominate opponents from the back of the court. The Argentine, though, tends to play his best tennis on clay, where he has reached two finals (won Bastad 2022, lost Buenos Aires 2021).

Norrie is more at home on quicker surfaces but is no slouch on red dirt, having had a good run in the Latin American Golden Swing. He lost to Alcaraz in the Buenos Aires final before avenging that defeat in the ATP 500 Rio de Janeiro Open title match.

Norrie is a good mover like Cerundolo, which is essential for success on clay. Moreover, he's having one of the best seasons of his career and will be keen to improve on his rather modest record in Monte Carlo. This is a tight match to call, but Norrie should prevail, albeit narrowly.

Pick: Norrie in three sets