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Monaco beat Mayer easily this season

Leonardo is ranked better, but he connected wins only twice this season, and easily lost to Monaco earlier this season. Juan has two convincing wins against Paire and Querrey and a good rhythm

Monaco continued playing great at clay after a few weaker tournaments. Even though, we should say that the reason he didn't connect wins since Miami is that he had a tough lot. As soon as the lot was a bit easier, and he didn't have to face Top 10 players, the Argentinian showed why he's consistent and a grateful player. 

Paire lost easily in the first round. The French did hold on a bit there in the first set, but he completely lost in the second set. Monaco finished the match without losing serve, and that's where he was supposed to be focused when facing Querrey, as well. He was. Although, he did lose his serve once, but played return better than great.

Juan got eight break-balls and took the serve from the American five times. When you take his serve, Sam's got no chance. Let's also mention that Querrey only won 27% second serve points. That shows best how better Monaco was in the rallies, as expected. Querrey's only chance was to keep himself afloat with his serve. He couldn't do it and that's why Monaco got the win this easily. He's a better clay player, and it showed.

This win means this is the fifth tournament where the Argentinian connected wins. He's been flirting with the Top 30 ranking for a while now, and it's only a question of when he gets back there.

Mayer was free in the first round. He's been in the Top 30 for some time now, but connected wins only twice in 11 tournaments he played. A bit of a paradox, but you can't deny Leonardo mostly played good tennis. He's an atypical player with a strong serve and a "tough" forehand, so he always relies on that in his game. That's what he did against Pouille, another aggressive pal, but Mayer was better at the serve and the forehand, and he won.

Actually, the first set was the most important one once again. The Argentinian missed 00-40 in the first game, but then calmed things down. Pouille serve became more stable, but he lost it in the seventh game. He missed two tied break-balls in the eighth, and the story ended there. He had a fight with the umpire at the beginning of the second set, his focus was lost, and so was his game.

- I had a mental downfall after fighting with the umpire about his decisions. I got annoyed and couldn't calm down afterwards - the French said.

Mayer can be content. He stood up okay in the first set, when Pouille was still eager. He kept his serve, and was efficient with the return. The second set isn't realistic, but after everything that happened in the first, the Argentinian was a big favorite. 

Even though Leonardo is ranked better, Monaco is the favorite here. First of all because he had better results this season, but also the fact that Monaco easily beat Mayer in Buenos Aires this season.

I can't escape the impression that Monaco is more consistent and has a better rhythm. He'd fare better in the recent tournaments if he didn't have a tough lot. He beat Paire and Querrey convincingly here, showing his great return, and his firmness on the serve. Mayer hasn't been playing badly lately, he mostly relies on his serve and forehand, but he's just not as good as Monaco. He showed good tennis in the first set against Pouille, but Pouille just fell apart in the second, and that's why that result happened. Monaco beat Mayer in straight sets this year, and he wasn't as good then as he is now. I'm sure Monaco will win by at least one break advantage per set, and if there's just one set with the break, and he wins the second in the tie-break, the stake will be void. Mayer is a typical player who has to deal with some issues with himself, and that will only get worse because he already lost to Monaco this year. All it takes is a few minutes for him to break, so the match goes to Monaco's side completely.