Monte-Carlo R2 previews and picks: Monfils vs. Dolgopolov, Tsonga vs. Goffin

Fellow Frenchmen and current doubles partners Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will headline a jam-packed slate of action on Wednesday in Monte-Carlo. Monfils is facing Alexandr Dolgopolov, while Tsonga is going up against David Goffin.

(14) Gael Monfils vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov

Monfils and Dolgopolov will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they do battle in round two of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Wednesday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Monfils’ way; 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3 at the 2013 Australian Open and 7-6(9), 6-3 that summer in Winston-Salem.

With virtual home-court advantage near France and on clay, Monfils seems like the favorite at first glance. But he retired from a fourth-round match in Miami against Tomas Berdych after falling on his hip and he struggled with Andrey Kuznetsov on Tuesday (the world No. 18 ended up getting the job done 4-6, 6-3, 6-4). Dolgopolov is finally over his knee troubles of 2014 and he has successfully regained his form. The 71st-ranked Ukrainian combined to go 5-2 in Indian Wells and Miami and he had the day off on Tuesday after ousting Borna Coric 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 in the Monte-Carlo first round. This is a good opportunity for Dolgopolov, who is playing well enough to take advantage of it.

Pick: Dolgopolov in 3

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(11) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. David Goffin

Like Monfils, with whom he is playing doubles this week, Tsonga has dealt with more than his fair share of physical problems. His have been even more problematic of late. In fact, Miami–where Tsonga beat Tim Smyczek then lost to Monfils–was his first tournament of the year. The 14th-ranked Frenchman got right back in action with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff in the Monte-Carlo opening round.

Goffin is 1-2 lifetime against Tsonga, with a 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3 loss at Wimbledon in 2013, a 7-6(5), 6-2 setback last summer at Queen’s Club, and a 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 win a few months later on the indoor hard courts of Metz. This is the Belgian’s second match against Tsonga since establishing himself near the top of the game with a scintillating post-Wimbledon run in 2014. Injuries have put a minor dent in his progress, but Goffin manged to reach the last 16 in Miami and he made quick 6-1, 6-4 work of qualifier Norbert Gombos on Monday. This is not a good matchup for a rusty Tsonga on clay, because he will be forced to play long points against one of the most solid baseliners in tennis.

Pick: Goffin in 2

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