Novak Djokovic and Frances Tiafoe will be back on the court in Brisbane on Thursday with a pair of marquee matchups on their hands. Djokovic faces familiar foe Gael Monfils, while Tiafoe awaits Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
(4) Frances Tiafoe vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Mpetshi Perricard wrapped up 2024 in the best form of his life and the 21-year-old Frenchman is showing no signs of slowing down. The reigning Basel champion got a tough draw at the Brisbane International but battled past Nick Kyrgios 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 7-6(3) in a match that unsurprisingly featured zero breaks of serve. Mpetshi Perricard blasted 36 aces, leaving Kyrgios to declare that his opponent’s serve was superior to that of guys like Ivo Karlovic, John Isner, and Milos Raonic.
Up next for the world No. 31 is a second meeting with Tiafoe, who lost their only previous encounter 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3 at the recent Paris Masters. Mpetshi Perricard double-faulted a ridiculous 13 times in that contest, but he still did not lose serve a single time. That doesn’t bode well for Tiafoe, who has cooled off a bit since his semifinal run at the U.S. Open this past summer. The 18th-ranked American also generally plays a lot better when the spotlight is on at bigger events than he does at ATP 250s. This is a great opportunity for Mpetshi Perricard.
Pick: Perricard in 3
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Gael Monfils
The most lopsided matchup in ATP Tour history will add another chapter when Djokovic and Monfils meet for the 20th time in their careers. Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 19-0, and no man has won more times against the same opponent without a loss. Ten have been straight-set results, including 6-3, 6-2 beatdowns in each of their two most recent encounters (2022 Madrid Masters, 2023 Cincinnati Masters).
Does Monfils have any chance of finally getting over the hump on Thursday? Probably not! Djokovic may be 37 years old, but–even though he did not win any slams last season–he accomplished his biggest goal in 2024 with a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. The Serb kicked off his 2025 campaign by easing past Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday in Brisbane. Monfils did well to hold off Nishesh Basavareddy 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the opening round, but nothing suggests that the 38-year-old Frenchman is ready to take down Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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GMP v Tiafoe should be a doozy.
affirmative