The opening round of the ATP London brings together two players in very different stages of their careers. Gael Monfils, once among the most entertaining athletes on the tour, is now 37 and clearly in the twilight of his career. Mackenzie McDonald, on the other hand, is trying to reignite his form and capitalise on the grass swing, where he’s shown promise before.
Mackenzie McDonald vs Gael Monfils Preview
McDonald has had a rocky couple of years, but this grass season could provide the spark he needs. He looked sharp last week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where he made it through qualifying and pushed into the main draw. This week, he continued that solid form by advancing through London’s qualifying rounds with straight-set wins over Aleksandar Kovacevic and Henry Searle. He’s moving well, serving effectively, and seems to have found a bit of rhythm just in time.
Grass suits McDonald’s game nicely — his flat groundstrokes and fast court instincts make him a tough opponent when his confidence is high. Given his current form and comfort on the surface, he enters this match with clear momentum.
Monfils opened his grass season with a disappointing loss in Stuttgart to young American Alex Michelsen. While the French veteran still exhibits bursts of brilliance in his game, consistency and fitness remain significant concerns, especially on grass, where quick movement and razor-sharp reactions are crucial.
Monfils has historically struggled on this surface. Despite over 150 wins each on hard and clay courts, his grass record stands at a modest 46–35. His last decent result at Queen’s Club came all the way back in 2006, and he’s barely managed two match wins at the venue since.
At this stage of his career, Monfils’ motivation and durability are questionable, especially on a surface he has never favoured.
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Mackenzie McDonald vs Gael Monfils – Match Analysis
This matchup is tilted in McDonald’s favour. He’s younger, in better physical condition, and is coming in with winning momentum and recent grass-court match play under his belt. Monfils, meanwhile, hasn’t found his footing on grass in years and looks out of rhythm following another first-round exit last week.
Unless Monfils rediscovers a sudden burst of form and fitness — which is highly unlikely on grass — McDonald should be able to wear him down with more consistent, focused play.
Betting Tip – Mackenzie McDonald vs Gael Monfils
McDonald is the more reliable and better-suited player for grass in this matchup. With Monfils showing signs of physical decline and never having looked comfortable on grass, this is McDonald’s match to lose. Expect the American to continue his strong run and advance to the next round.
Betting Tip: Mackenzie McDonald to Win
Betting Odds: 1.91
Bookmaker: Cloudbet