Luciano Darderi vs Gael Monfils Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 23/04/2024, 08:34  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 23/04/2024 at 10:54 in ATP Mutua Madrid Open Predictions

Veteran Gael Monfils has a tricky match in the first round of the Madrid Masters. He takes on Luciano Darderi with the winner up against the 12th-seeded Taylor Fritz in the next round of this outdoor clay court tournament. Monfils is a former Roland Garros semi-finalist but that was achieved 15 years ago and hasn't got past round two since 2019. He's made it to three other quarter-finals but the last was in 2014. He didn't play in Madrid last year and two years ago was beaten in the second round. Monfils is 36th in the live rankings so still in with a chance of being seeded at Roland Garros this year. His form at present isn't great though with second round exits in both Estoril and Monte Carlo.

Luciano Darderi is a career-high 56th in the live rankings but 41st in the ATP Race. That's mainly due to his winning the Cordoba clay court tournament this year. He had some good wins that week and that included beating Sebastian Baez, Yannick Hanfmann and Sebastian Ofner. Darderi also went well in the US Clay Court Championships and made it to the last four. He beat Marcos Giron and Francisco Cerundolo that week. With another quarter-final in Santiago and two titles won the Challenger Tour last year, he has a good chance here and we tip him to beat Monfils.