Shanghai Masters 2024: Gael Monfils vs Ugo Humbert preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Gael Monfils vs (16) Ugo Humbert
Date: 6 October 2024
Tournament: Shanghai Masters 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China
Category: ATP 1000
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $8,800,000
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN
Gael Monfils vs Ugo Humbert preview
One of the third-round matches of the 2024 Shanghai Masters will be an all-French affair between Gael Monfils and 16th-seeded Ugo Humbert. 2024 has been a mediocre season for Monfils who has a 23-20 record in the season with no titles. He reached the semifinals of the Mallorca Championships on grass and the hard courts of the Qatar Open. The last event the Frenchman played was the China Open, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 4-6 in the first round.
At the Shanghai Masters, the former World No. 6 opened his campaign with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Damir Dzumhur in the first round. He caused an upset in the second round, getting past 22nd-seeded Sebastian Baez in three sets, with the scoreline of 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Humbert has a 33-21 record in 2024, with two hard-court titles at Marseille and Dubai. The Frenchman entered the Shanghai Masters on the back of a final run at the Japan Open. The World No. 15 lost to fellow countryman Arthur Fils in a tough three-setter 7-5, 6-7(6), 3-6, not being able to win the match despite having match points in the second set tiebreaker.
Being a seeded player, Humbert got a bye in the opening round. He put the disappointment of Tokyo behind him, and put together a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over another French player Arthur Cazaux in the second round.
Gael Monfils vs Ugo Humbert head-to-head
Humbert leads 3-1 in the head-to-head against Monfils. The last time these two players went up against each other, Humbert won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round during his title run at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Gael Monfils vs Ugo Humbert odds
(Odds will be updated once available)
Gael Monfils vs Ugo Humbert prediction
In his match against Baez, Gael Monfils won 71 percent of his first serve points while hitting 15 aces and 36 winners. Despite this, the Frenchman had to face 13 break-point opportunities on his serve, as he could only win 47 percent of his second serve points. He was proficient while returning his opponent's second serve, winning 72 percent of the second serve return points.
Ugo Humbert won 84 percent of his points on his first serve against Arthur Cazaux in the previous match. The World No. 15 hit 23 winners but was also complicit in making 26 unforced errors in just two sets.
First-serve accuracy will be key in determining the outcome of the Monfils-Humbert encounter. It will be of interest to see if the World No. 15 has recovered completely after his grueling run in Tokyo.
Pick- Monfils to win in three sets.