French Open: Will Monfils strike back?

Roland Garros is going to witness some spectacular matches this year. The matches which are being looked out for the most, in the men’s singles division, are the much awaited Rafa vs Nole contest – a predicted semi-final clash – and today’s match between the Czech player and also the world no.6, Tomas Berdych, and the Frenchman, Gael Monfils.

Monfils has consistently entered the tournament, diligently managed to cope up with his knee-injury and entertained the crowd with his trademark slides! He reached the quarter finals in 2009 and 2011 and the finals in 2008. Monfils had fallen outside the top 100 men’s singles ranking due to an injury but it seems he has learnt to survive with his injury which the medical minds term as a ‘bipartite patella’. He is currently the world no.81 and means business in this year’s French Open.

He recently bagged the title of the Challenger Event in Bordeaux and also booked himself a spot in the finals in Nice.

Berdych might be wary of Monfils’ form and the advantage that he holds of playing at his home ground, but Berdych, being the world no.6, is not a pushover! He made it to the semis in 2010 when he dismissed Murray. He also holds a 3-0 head to head record over the French. He beat Monfils last year on the blue clay of the Madrid Masters. Berdych might not be a clay court expert, unlike Monfils, but his style of play should cause Monfils some trouble.

Judging by the form-book, Berdych is the favourite, but the partisan home crowd might have something to say about that!