It’s La Monf vs Noz in the round of 32 at the BNP Paribas Open. Both Gael Monfils and Cameron Norrie got off to a flying start to their campaign at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. Cameron Norrie has an impressive record at this venue, while this is Gael Monfils’s 15th appearance at the first leg of the Sunshine Double. Who will have the last laugh in this intriguing encounter? 

While Norrie won this title in 2021, Monfils has reached only as far as the last eight twice. And the last time it happened was in 2019. The stage is set for what will be an enthralling battle. Can the 37-year-old star overcome the British hurdle and extend his run in the tournament? Or will Norrie continue another dream run to the title?

Gael Monfils vs Cameron Norrie: Preview

Gael Monfils started his 2024 campaign at the ASB Classic but was eliminated in the first round. However, in the 2024 Australian Open, he tasted victory in his first match but was defeated in the next. Then he made yet another early exit in a tournament before eventually making it to the round of 16 in Rotterdam and the semifinals in the Qatar Open. After that, at the Dubai Tennis Championships, he was defeated at the hands of his compatriot, Ugo Humbert.

However, in Indian Wells, he got off to a flying start, breezing past Australia’s Max Purcell,6-1, 6-2, in the round of 128. Then came a meeting with World No.8 Hubert Hurkacz, and Monfils got past him in three sets: 6-0, 6-7, 6-2. Can he get a hattrick of wins at the Indian Wells this season? Well, that depends on how his match against the British No.1 goes.

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Apart from winning the title in 2021, Cameron Norrie has reached the QF of the tournament on two more occasions. Talking about his season so far, Norrie didn’t start off on the best foot and was forced to pull out of the quarterfinals of his first tournament at the ASB Classic with a wrist injury. He made a comeback at the AO but lost to Alexander Zverev in a marathon five-set encounter in the tournament’s fourth round.

Then he went to South America and reached the round of 16 in the Argentina Open and the semifinals in the Rio Open. Norrie’s Indian Wells campaign started off with a straight-set win against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, 6-4, 6-4, in the round of 64. That being said, how do they stack up against each other?

Monfils vs Norrie: Head-to-Head

Monfils and Norrie have faced each other on three previous occasions, and the Frenchman has dominated their head-to-head so far. They first met in the round of 16 at the 2017 Eastbourne International. Monfils comfortably won that grass court encounter 6-3, 6-2. Their second meeting was in China in 2019, where Monfils was the victor once again. However, it was a hard-fought battle in which the 37-year-old came back from a set down, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Their last meeting was at the Cincinnati Open last year. Gael Monfils had a similar outing as the one from China, defeating Cameron Norrie 3-6,6-4,6-3. Considering their two most recent matches have been three-setters, is it likely to happen a third time?

Prediction: Monfils will do his Wakanda Forever celebration after a three-set victory

Considering Indian Wells’ low altitude, the ball should ideally travel faster through the air. But because of the grittiness of the courts, shots tend to slow down, making them more suited to spin. However, this time around, players are reporting that the courts are faster than usual. While this has worked incredibly well for Cameron Norrie’s backhand, it hasn’t been the best for his heavy topspin lefty forehand.

On the other hand, Monfils, who loves hitting flat groundstrokes quite frequently, could just use the conditions to his advantage more than Norrie does. Although the Brit is a past champion and looked solid in his opening-round match, he admitted he’s still recovering from illness, saying,  “I got sick at the end of Rio so I haven’t been able to practice too much.”

As for Gael Monfils, he took everyone by surprise with his performance against Hubert Hurkacz. Apart from the psychological advantage he would have, owing to his 3-0 H2H record against Norrie, he’s also been in amazing form – GOD MODE, as some would say. That being said, and considering their recent matches, Monfils could have a higher chance of winning in three sets. 

Needless to say, this will be quite an exciting match on Monday. Who’s your pick?

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