It’s experience versus youth in Brisbane! French superstar, Gael Monfils is all set to take on America’s Nishsesh Basavareddy in the Round of 32 of the Brisbane International. This is Monfils’ 22nd season on the tour and the 38-year-old Frenchman is still going stronger than ever! His one and only appearance at this tournament came in 2010. And Monfils managed to reach the SF at that time! Can he make a similarly deep run this time as well? Or will the young American put an early end to his campaign in Brisbane?

Gael Monfils vs Nishesh Basavareddy: Preview

Gael Monfils failed to win a title in the 2024 season despite playing a decent brand of tennis in some of the tournaments in the last twelve months. Take, for example, the Qatar Open: Gael Monfils reached the SF. However, he was defeated there by the Czech tennis player, Jakub Mensik by 4-6,6-1,3-6. Then his most notable performance came at the Mallorca Championships; even there, he reached the SF but fell short of reaching the final. Monfils is entering this contest following his walkover from the R16 clash against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti at the Vienna Open in October. The veteran’s longevity at the top of the sport has been set in stone for ages. And yet the niggling question begs to be asked: Can the Frenchman find his rhythm again after such a long gap?

Time will tell, definitely. But whether or not Monfils succeeds, it will certainly be an uphill climb either way. His 19-year-old opponent Nishesh Basavareddy has played some outstanding tennis last season. He reached the finals of multiple Challenger events this year. Apart from that, Basavareddy also clinched the titles at the Challenger Tiburon, US, and the Puerto Vallarta Open. And the sweetening the deal was his fair campaign at the Next Gen ATP finals, where he won 1 out of his 3 matches. Although he crashed out in the group stage itself, he soon received a main draw wildcard for his Grand Slam debut at the upcoming Australian Open. This boost of confidence is exactly what’s needed in a match against someone like Gael Monfils.

Monfils vs Basavareddy: Head-to-Head

Gael Monfils has never faced this youngster before in his career. So currently, Nishesh Basavareddy’s H2H record against the Frenchman is at 0-0. Who could have the edge in Brisbane, though? Let’s find out.

Prediction: Monfils to win in straight sets

Gael Monfils’ experience may come out to be a bit hot to handle for this young American. Monfils (55) had a win-loss record of 25-21 in the last season, whereas, Nishesh Basavareddy (138) had an overall record of 49-18. However, the young American mostly took part in the Challenger events last year.

Now if we look at their playing styles, Nishesh Basavareddy is known for his aggressive style of play. He often relies heavily on his powerful groundstrokes and quick footwork, allowing him to dominate rallies. Not only that, but observing and analyzing matches enabled him now to refine his techniques a bit, making him a formidable opponent on the court.

On the other hand, Monfils is more of a baseliner. He mainly relies on placement and consistency to beat his opponents. His incredible agility and court coverage – even at this advanced age – make him a really dangerous player on the tour. He can also jump from defense to offense pretty quickly. Considering all these factors, Gael Monfils might very well get through to the next round in Brisbane. What are your thoughts? Comment down below!