ATP 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters Finals Odds: Fognini vs Lajovic

• Dusan Lajovic has never won an ATP Tournament before.
• Lajovic had never won four consecutive tour-level matches before the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters.
• No. 13 Fabio Fognini stunned No. 2 Rafael Nadal on Saturday to earn a spot in the final.

The 2019 Monte Carlo Masters is normally Rafael Nadal’s to lose, but the 11-time champion was stunned on Saturday and will not be in the final.

Instead, it’ll be No. 13 Fabio Fognini, who stunned Nadal, going up against No. 48 Dusan Lajovic, who is on the run of his life. He’s never won a tournament before or even won four straight matches – as he has this week – so we’re set up for one of the most surprising Masters 1000 finals in the last decade.

Monte Carlo Masters Odds

*Odds taken April 20

Lajovic On A Stunning Run

While Dusan Lajovic has enjoyed some success on the ATP Tour, collecting more than $3.5 million in career earnings, he has never won a title in his entire professional tennis career. He’s 28 years old, so he’s past the stage of being an “up-and-comer”, which is what makes his run at Monte Carlo more impressive.

It started with No. 16 seed David Goffin in the second round. Goffin is a decent player on clay, so this was a surprise. Then he upset No. 4 Dominic Thiem, who is a clay-court specialist and was considered a contender for the French Open crown.

Lajovic had an easier-than-expected quarterfinal with Lorenzo Sonego, who he easily turned aside, before beating No. 10 Daniil Medvedev – the man who ousted No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic – to earn a spot in the finals.

What’s even more impressive about Lajovic’s run is that he hasn’t even lost a set yet. Without question, he’s playing the best tennis of his career. One more win and he’ll earn his first career tournament win.

Fognini Ousts The King

As surprising as it is to see Lajovic in the final, it’s equally surprising to see No. 13 Fabio Fognini as his opponent. Fognini knocked off No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal. Of course, Nadal is the king of clay, so seeing him lose is always stunning. Nadal hadn’t lost a set before losing in straight sets to Fognini on Saturday.

Monte Carlo or Rome?! Noise levels off the charts as Fognini defeats Nadal… ?@fabiofogna #RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/rm4U5YA93Z

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 20, 2019

Fognini also took care of No. 9 Borna Coric and No. 3 Alex Zverev.

Bet On Lajovic

I’d bet on Lajovic to get one more win and earn the crown on Sunday. Of course, nobody expected this from him but it’s hard to bet against a player that’s performing so well. He’s played some really tough opponents and even though he’s the No. 48-ranked player in the world, he’s yet to lose a set.

As for Fognini, he did slay the dragon in Nadal, but he’s had a number of close calls in this tournament. He needed three sets against Coric, didn’t have to play a second-round match after Gilles Simon pulled out, and he needed three sets versus qualifier Andrey Rublev in the first round.

Montecarlo | Otro que debutará en semifinales será Dusan Lajovic (??), que consiguió el boleto tras vencer a Lorenzo Sonego (??) por 6-4,7-5. pic.twitter.com/bUVdCYRG34

— Drive Cruzado (@DriveCruzado) April 19, 2019

Lajovic’s record on clay last year (13-10) was far better than on the hard courts (6-7) or grass (1-2). As for Fognini, he was just 13-8 on clay last year and 15-11 in 2017. I’ll bet the dog to finish his incredible week with his first tournament win.