Perennial crowd favourite Gael Monfils begins his Paris Masters campaign on Wednesday evening against Feliciano Lopez.
Monfils faces a mountain of a task this week if he's going to qualify for the ATP World Finals for the first time. The Frenchman currently lies fourteenth in the Race and he'll need to win the title to give himself a chance of making it.
However if the last two years are anything to go by, never underestimate Monfils particularly at this event, his favourite on the tour, where he's the darling of the Bercy crowds.
In 2009 Monfils took full advantage when his draw opened up, taking out Marin Cilic and Radek Stepanek to reach the final before falling to Novak Djokovic in a third set tiebreak. Last year's run was even more spectacular as he toppled Fernando Verdasco and Andy Murray before staving off multiple match points to stun Roger Federer. However again he couldn't quite deliver in the final, falling to an inspired Robin Soderling.
This is as tough an opener as any. Lopez is a formidable opponent indoors, he reached the Shanghai Masters semis last month and looked pretty impressive during a 7-6(7), 6-3 win over Michael Llodra on centre court on Tuesday.
The Spaniard also won their only previous clash 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(7) in Johannesburg last year.
Prediction: Lopez to dash Monfils' hopes in straight sets.
