Lyon previews and predictions: Monfils vs. Nishioka, Bublik vs. Vukic

Round one of the ATP 250 Lyon is wrapping up on Tuesday, when Gael Monfils will play in front of the home crowd against Yoshihito Nishioka. Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik and Aleksadar Vukic are kicking off second-round action.

(8) Gael Monfils vs. Yoshihito Nishioka

Monfils and Nishioka will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the second time at the Open Parc when they meet again during first-round competition on Tuesday. Their previous encounter at this tournament certainly did not disappoint, as Nishioka prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) three years ago. The left-hander from Japan also won their first contest via a 7-5, 6-2 decision on the indoor hard courts of the Davis Cup Finals in 2019.

At 38 years old, Monfils is still playing decent tennis and will head into Roland Garros at 37th in the rankings. He has been cold on clay so far this spring, but the home crowd this week and the prospect of the French Open on the immediate horizon should increase Monfils’ motivation level. A draw against Nishioka appears to be favorable, too, as the world No. 72 is just 6-8 this year. Nishioka has won only a single main-tour match since Acapulco in late February and he retired from his opener at last week’s Challenger event in Turin. Despite his winless history in this matchup, Monfils should have the upper hand on Tuesday.

Pick: Monfils in 2

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Aleksandar Vukic vs. (2) Alexander Bublik

Given that this is an ATP 250 on clay the week before a Grand Slam, you have to think Bublik’s motivation level may be at an all-time low. Although the 19th-ranked Kazakh has produced some decent results on the slow stuff over the years, he admittedly hates it. Bublik did well to reach the last 16 in Madrid, but quick conditions there are conducive to his playing style. Exits from Monte-Carlo (6-1, 6-1 to Borna Coric) and Rome (6-4, 6-4 to Nuno Borges) came in his opening match at those tournaments.

Up first for Lyon’s second seed on Tuesday is a second showdown against Vukic, who won their only previous meeting 7-6(5), 6-2 two years ago in Adelaide. The 93rd-ranked Australian also isn’t at his best on clay, but he reached the quarterfinals in Marrakech, successfully qualified in Monte-Carlo, and advanced one round in Rome. Vukic also has a match under his belt in Lyon (beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-2 on Monday), giving him all the more reason to pull off a minor upset on Tuesday.

Pick: Vukic in 3

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