Photograph per Wikipedia Commons.
Gaël Monfils (France, world No. 203) opened his Monte Carlo campaign with a 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-4 win over Tallon Griekspoor (Netherlands, world No. 30), advancing to the second round after a two-hour, seventeen-minute match.
The match required a full shift in control. Monfils lost the opening set in a tiebreak but adjusted immediately, extending rallies and forcing errors across the second and third sets. He broke early in the decider and maintained that advantage, closing the match without allowing the momentum to reverse again.
That result is significant given his recent form.
Monfils entered the tournament with a 2–4 record in 2026 and had not competed since Indian Wells, where he lost to Félix Auger-Aliassime (Canada, world No. 8) in three sets.
The win over Griekspoor represents both his first victory on clay this season and a continuation of his ability to compete in extended matches despite limited match play.
From a structural standpoint, his game remains suited to clay conditions.
Monfils relies on movement, defensive coverage, and the ability to extend rallies rather than dictate early. On slower surfaces, that profile allows him to disrupt rhythm and force opponents into additional shot tolerance, particularly against players who prefer shorter points.
He now faces Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan, world No. 11) in the second round.
The matchup presents a clear contrast in playing styles. Bublik’s game is based on first-strike tennis, using serve and early shot-making to shorten points, while Monfils looks to extend rallies and force variability in pace and positioning. On clay, the surface conditions reduce Bublik’s advantage in shorter exchanges and increase the importance of sustained baseline consistency.
The outcome of this match will be determined by control of rally length.
If Monfils is able to extend points and maintain depth, he can disrupt Bublik’s rhythm and force errors over time. If Bublik establishes early control behind his serve and forehand, the match will be played on his terms.
Monfils enters the second round with limited match volume this season but a clear performance indicator from the opening round.
The result against Griekspoor demonstrated that his level remains competitive when matches extend into longer exchanges, which will be required again against a top-15 opponent.
