Djokovic v De Minaur rematch possible at Monte-Carlo

Australian star Alex de Minaur could be in line for a blockbuster quarter-final showdown with Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Masters, with both players landing in the same quarter of the draw for the second year running.

Djokovic, the No.3 seed, and de Minaur, seeded eighth, need just two wins apiece to book a rematch of their 2024 Monte-Carlo quarter-final, which the Serbian won 7-5, 6-4.

That victory pushed Djokovic’s head-to-head lead to 2-1 over the Aussie.

Top-eight seeds receive first-round byes at the ATP Masters 1000 event, so Djokovic will face either Stan Wawrinka or clay-court weapon Alejandro Tabilo in the second round.

A third-round clash with Grigor Dimitrov, seeded No.15, looms as a key hurdle.

De Minaur’s path begins against either Tomas Machac or Sebastian Baez, with No.9 seed Daniil Medvedev a likely third-round opponent.

If the Aussie progresses, it would set up a tantalizing repeat clash against Djokovic on the red clay.

Elsewhere in the draw, the top-heavy first quarter includes Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune, and fellow Aussie Jordan Thompson.

Whoever emerges from that brutal section could meet the Djokovic-de Minaur winner in the semi-finals.

Down in the bottom half, new Indian Wells champion Jack Draper is grouped with Casper Ruud, while world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz headlines the fourth quarter.

The Spaniard is joined by No.7 seed Andrey Rublev and French fan favorite Gael Monfils.

Tennis sportsbooks are yet to release full Monte-Carlo odds, but French Open markets provide a strong hint.

Alcaraz is a +100 favorite at Nags.bet for Roland-Garros, and is expected to open as a short-priced favorite to win in Monaco.

De Minaur, meanwhile, sits on the 12th line of betting for the French Open and will be a notable outsider this week on the slow, high-bouncing European clay.

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