Australian Open 2024: Yannick Hanfmann vs Gael Monfils preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Yannick Hanfmann vs Gael Monfils
Date: 15 January 2024
Tournament: Australian Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: A$86,500,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN & Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Sports & Sony Liv | Canada - TSN & RDS
Yannick Hanfmann vs Gael Monfils preview
World No. 49 Yannick Hanfmann will square off against World No. 75 Gael Monfils in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open on Monday.
Hanfmann's commitment to the main tour was visible last year. The German chalked up 23 wins from 55 matches and semi-final appearances at the Mallorca Open and The U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. He also reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Italian Open in Rome.
The 32-year-old will enter the Australian Open on the back of early exits at the Brisbane International and the Adelaide International. Despite a spirited performance against Lorenzo Sonego in the first round, he couldn't register a win in Adelaide. The Italian outsmarted Hanfamnn in a hardfought three-set contest 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(9).
On the other hand, Gael Monfils returned to the men's tour last year in March. The Frenchman was sidelined for seven months due to repeated injuries.
He had a decent run last year, garnering 16 wins from 30 matches and a title-winning run at the Stockholm Open. The Frenchman also reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Canada Masters.
The French veteran will enter the Australian Open on the back of ordinary campaigns at the Paris Masters and the 2024 ASB Classic. He failed to clear the initial hurdle at both events. Hungarian talent Fabian Marozsan outlasted Monfils in two hours and 35 minutes in Auckland 6-4, 6-7(6), 7-6 (4).
Yannick Hanfmann vs Gael Monfils head-to-head
Hanfmann leads the head-to-head against Monfils 1-0. He defeated the Frenchman at the 2020 Hamburg European Open.
Yannick Hanfmann vs Gael Monfils odds
All odds are sourced by BetMGM.
Yannick Hanfmann vs Gael Monfils prediction
Fans can expect a fiery encounter between Hanfmann and Monfils in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open. Considering their recent results and experience at the highest level, Monfils will be a slight favourite to get over the line in this bout.
The Frenchman has performed at a decent level since his return. Apart from a title-winning run at the Stockholm Open, he humbled top quality opposition such as Alex De Minaur, Cameron Norrie, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Adrian Mannarino. His powerful groundstrokes, tactical acumen and remarkable presence on court could be too hot to handle for the German.
Hanfmann will be in for a tough challenge if Monfils settles in quickly during the match. He will need to adapt to tough in-game situations and use his intelligent court positioning skills to hang around with the Frenchman. The German's ability to hit a winner from anywhere on court makes him a challenging adversary.
Ultimately, the player who holds his nerve during crucial moments and isn't afraid to take risks might come out on top in this encounter. With experience and a recent title victory under his belt, Monfils should be able to open his bag of tricks and get the job done in the first round.
Pick: Monfils to win in four sets.