Zizou Bergs is playing his first ATP Tour final, while Gael Monfils is competing in his 35th, at the ATP 250 in Auckland. But the Frenchman’s record in championship matches isn’t the strongest (12-22) and he’s nearing the end of his illustrious career. Can the debutant get it done?
ATP Auckland Final Prediction
Zizou Bergs vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-head: First meeting
Zizou Bergs had never made an ATP Tour semifinal before this week, but it was clear this was only a matter of time with the Belgian now getting more main circuit opportunities. This run has been a wild ride with Pablo Carreno Busta serving for the win against him in the first round of qualifying. But nonetheless, it’s a fantastic start to the season for the 25-year-old who’s only lost once in eight matches (to Arthur Fils). Nuno Borges also served for the match against him yesterday with Bergs surviving again.
Gael Monfils is still going relatively strong at 38 years of age. The Frenchman is 5-1 for the season with the only loss coming to Novak Djokovic and had his own comeback in the opening round here, erasing a 1-6 2-5 deficit against Pedro Martinez. Since then he hasn’t dropped a set, even in the tight affair against Nishesh Basavareddy that saw the young American dominate most of the encounter. But it was the veteran who took pretty much all the key points.
Bergs and Monfils will meet for the first time in a professional match, but it’s a fun note that the Belgian took down this opponent on the way to the Tie-Break Tens title in 2021. It’s just a ten-point tie-break irrelevant for their clash today, but at the time that event was massive for Bergs and his career progression. Either way, this will be a very different encounter. Monfils still has his anticipation and flair, despite losing some of the raw defensive speed. Mentally, more pressure will be on Bergs in his maiden ATP Tour final. But he’s got the game to take it to his past-his-prime rival and despite two more matches this week, should be stronger physically.
Prediction: Bergs in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
