Monfils faces easier task in Lyon than Madrid and Rome

ATP Geneva Open/ATP Lyon Open/WTA Strasbourg International/WTA Nuremberg Cup
Monday first-round matches

Gael Monfils is keen to play a few more competitive matches before the French Open and looks a solid odds-on favourite to win his Lyon Open first-round contest against Maximilian Marterer.

The last two weeks have been tough for Monfils, who lost in the second round in Madrid (3-6 1-6 to Rafael Nadal) and the first round in Rome (3-6 1-6 to Fabio Fognini).

However, he has an easier task against Marterer, who is inexperienced on the big stage.

Marterer is an aggressive player with a big serve and a powerful forehand but still has plenty to learn and may lack the knowhow to overcome a seasoned pro such as Monfils.

Alison Van Uytvanck showed signs of getting her game back on track at last week's Italian Open by coming through qualifying to reach the second round, and she looks a worthy favourite to defeat Belgian compatriot Kirsten Flipkens in their Nuremberg Cup first-round match.

At her best Van Uytvanck is a dangerous player. She picked up her second career title when winning the Hungarian Open in February and looks a likely winner against Flipkens, whose best effort this year was a quarter-final showing in Lugano in April.

Recommendations
G Monfils
2pts 8-11 Paddy Power
A Van Uytvanck
2pts 8-13 Paddy Power

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport