Gael Monfils plays hard-hitting left-hander Thomaz Bellucci in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
This should be an entertaining one as the dusk falls on Margaret Court Arena. Bellucci may have little hard-court pedigree to write home about but he's a prodigiously talented ball-striker with the potential to achieve much, much more.
Monfils has enjoyed his best ever start to the year, beating Rafa Nadal on the way to the Doha final. However it takes time to adjust to the conditions in Melbourne, and the 14th seed didn't look particularly comfortable during 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-3 round one win over wildcard Marinko Matosevic. Both players found things tough in the wind and Monfils wouldn't have been too pleased with 31 unforced errors.
Against Bellucci, he'll need to be a lot more consistent, soaking up the pace the Brazilian can generate with his whip-snap forehand.
Monfils has never been past the last sixteen at this event. He won the junior title back in 2004 but his best run in the seniors came in 2009 where he made round four. This year he's seeded to face two-time finalist Andy Murray at that stage which could be one to relish if it goes ahead next Monday.
Prediction: Monfils to grind this one out in four.
