It will be an all-American affair when Frances Tiafoe and Ryan Harrison face each other in the Geneva first round on Monday. In Lyon, meanwhile, a rusty Gael Monfils is kicking off his campaign against Maximilian Marterer.
Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open: Frances Tiafoe vs. Ryan Harrison
Tiafoe and Harrison will be squaring off for the second time in their careers at the ATP level and for the fourth time overall when they clash in the Geneva first round on Monday. Their only previous clay-court encounter came two years ago in Tallahassee, where Tiafoe got the job done 7-6(4), 6-4. He also prevailed 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 2015 Winston-Salem qualifying, while Harrison scored a 6-7(0), 7-6(8), 6-4 victory on the indoor hard courts of the Memphis 250-point event in 2016.
Still just 20 years old, Tiafoe has only improved since their pair of 2016 showdowns. The 61st-ranked American has earned 15 of his 24 career main-tour match wins this season, which includes a title in Delray Beach, a runner-up finish in Estoril, and a fourth-round showing in Miami. Harrison, ranked five spots better than his compatriot as of Sunday, is a modest 13-10 this year and he is coming off consecutive second-round performances to begin his clay-court swing (Houston, Madrid, and Rome). This has always been a tough head-to-head matchup for Harrison and Tiafoe is a much different player than the one that was on display during their 2015 and 2016 meetings. The Tiafoe forehand will be the biggest weapon on the court and it should carry him to a hard-fought victory over the 26-year-old.
Pick: Tiafoe in 3
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Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon: (6) Gael Monfils vs. Maximilian Marterer
Will there be further French disappointment at Roland Garros, which begins in one week? No man from the host nation has won the title since Yannick Noah in 1983 and there is no reason to think any Frenchman will come close this time around. Lucas Pouille and Richard Gasquet have not done much of late, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is out because of injury, and Monfils is once again a question mark. Due to both recurring physical problems and poor play, the 31-year-old has plunged to 38th in the rankings and will be unseeded at the season’s second major. He is 1-4 in his last five matches dating back to Indian Wells and got blown out by Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-1 in the Rome first round.
Up first for Monfils on Monday is Marterer, whom the former world No. 6 has never faced. Marterer is in the midst of a breakout 2018 campaign; in fact, all 10 his ATP-level victories have come this season. The 22-year-old German, who is up to No. 69 in the world, recently made a run to the Munich semifinals–during which he thrashed Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-2 before eventually succumbing to an in-form Philipp Kohlschreiber. Momentum is firmly on Marterer’s side, so he should be able to extend Monfils’ woes.
Pick: Marterer in 2
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who ya got?
Hey, my pargraphs are not posting…What keywords are blocked?
‘Foe in three
While agree about Marterer in better form, still cant pick against Monf on French clay,Him in three .
test test
It won’t let me post the analysis I wrote. What keywords are blocked? Is it Isner?
Harrison in 3
Monfils in 3
Isner and Cilic are strong form lines.
Monfils should start to turn it on now. It doesnt take much for a player of his ability to find form after a loss heading into a GS.
Tiafoe as he’s had the most recent success on clay. And notable wins this year against four top 10 players. Prone to his emotions and up against a seasoned vet in the beginning rounds of a tournament so we will go with 3 sets. Nevertheless, no notable world tour wins recently for Harrison except good games against his training partner Isner and an out of form Young which imo he struggled with. A loss to Fritz doesn’t bode well for me either.
Tiafoe in 2
Unsure about Monfils – Marterer since Gael can always find some momentum somewhere and start cruising in the match and he might also lose in 2 as predicted but can’t go against him on french clay.
This kid Marterer’s resume is insane. He has collected so many prizes at the challenger and itf levels. He beat Shwartzmann on clay in Germany, wow. Mofils at his best can take a set off of anyone, but he is farrr from his best. Danger!