The second round of the French Open 2024 has set the stage for several thrilling matchups, featuring notable players such as Djokovic facing Carballes Baena and Azarenka taking on Andreeva. Among these anticipated contests is an intriguing clash between local favourite Gael Monfils and No. 30 seed Lorenzo Musetti.
Monfils, currently ranked world No. 37, has had a difficult season. Despite reaching the round 16 at the BNP Paribas Open, he was defeated by Casper Ruud and hasn't shown strong form on clay. However, with the support of the home crowd in Paris, maybe Monfils can gain enough momentum to advance through the French Open.
Musetti has also had a challenging season, entering the French Open after a string of first-round exits in Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid. His best recent performance on clay was in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the Round of 16.
Both Monfils and Musetti have successfully navigated their first-round matches at Roland Garros, setting the stage for an exciting second-round showdown. The winner of this clash will move on to face either Novak Djokovic or Roberto Carballes Baena.
Who prevails in this second-round clash of generations? Read on for our Monfils vs Musetti prediction and betting tips.
How Bookies View It: Advantage Musetti
Bookmaker bet365 favours Musetti emerging victorious in this matchup, making him the favourite at 4/9. Monfils on the other hand, stands at 7/4. Set betting suggests a 3-0 victory for Musetti, with this result paying 12/5.
Recent Head-to-Head: Advantage Monfils
Monfils and Musetti have encountered each other once before, with Monfils being the victor. Their last face-off was in Vienna at the Erste Bank Open in 2021, where Monfils won 7-6(2), 6-4.
Anything Else Catch the Eye?
Monfils' game is built on his extraordinary speed, allowing him to make remarkable shots from the baseline and effectively neutralise his opponent's serve.
This skill was on full display in his first-round victory over Seyboth Wild. The match lasted for two hours and 36 minutes and saw Monfils triumph in four sets with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Monfils' performance was highlighted by nine aces, a 79 percent success rate on his first serve, with a total of 43 winners.
On the other hand, Musetti relies heavily on his serve and boasts a potent backhand. The Italian's traditional single-handed backhand is complemented by an equally effective forehand.
In his first-round match against Daniel Galan, Musetti secured a convincing 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win. His impressive stats included an 87 percent first-serve win rate, a 42 percent success rate on breakpoints, and a total of 37 winners.
Monfils has a 12-12 win-loss record year-to-date, while Musetti is on 9-14.
Monfils vs Musetti Betting Tips and Predictions
While Monfils has ample experience, Musetti is more likely to compensate with his prodigal gameplay. Father time is catching up to the Frenchman, so Musetti is going to be our pick for this one.
- Musetti to win @ 4/9
- Five sets total @ 9/4
Monfils and Musetti will play on the Court Philippe-Chatrier, not before 8:15pm local time on 30th May. While you wait, make sure to check out our overall winner predictions for the French Open 2024.
Bren is our resident Kiwi, and has been playing or watching sports down under in New Zealand for the better part of three decades. With 12+ years experience as a professional writer, Bren loves to dive deep into all things sport to bring the best betting analysis and predictions here at Mr Fixits Tips.
