Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Gael Monfils Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP National Bank Open

Prediction published on 07/08/2024, 05:25  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 07/08/2024 at 06:25 in Tennis Predictions

World number 81 Thanasi Kokkinakis opens his Montreal campaign with a match against fellow unseeded player Gael Monfils. The winner will take on the fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz in round two. Here's our Kokkinakis v Monfils match prediction.

Kokkinakis didn't play in the Olympics and his last tournament was the hard court event played in Washington. The Australian reached the last 16 but had to retire from his match against Sebastian Korda when it was one-set apiece.

Back fit again, Kokkinakis will hope for better luck in this hard court tournament. He's reached one ATP quarter-final on this surface in 2024. That was in Los Cabos six months ago. He's 1-1 in previous meetings with Monfils and won the most recent one played last year on a hard court.

Gael Monfils did take part in the Olympics but lost in the first round of the men's singles. The Frenchman is ranked 36th in the world and will be hoping to rise a few more places and be seeded for the upcoming US Open Grand Slam.

Monfils has had success this year with a semi-final in Doha and making it to the last 16 at Indian Wells. A semi-final was also reached in the Mallorca grass court tournament this summer. There's not too much to split these two players and we believe three sets will be played.