The draw for the Australian Open, Thursday in Melbourne, offered the French an explosive clash of generations in the first round between Gaël Monfils and Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard, as well as a reunion between Caroline Garcia and the Japanese Naomi Osaka.
One, aged 38, remains a star of French tennis, while the second, 21, with a formidable serve, aspires to become one: Monfils against Mpetshi-Perricard will constitute a poster for the first round in Melbourne, first Grand Slam of the season, starting Sunday.
Not to spoil anything, the two tricolors, who have never met before, are in good shape at the start of the season. On Thursday, while the draw took place in Melbourne, the eldest qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament in Auckland, in neighboring New Zealand. And with style since, in his quest for a 13th title, the Parisian, currently 52nd in the world, easily dismissed the Argentinian Facundo Diaz (78th) in two sets, 6-3, 6-1.
But Mpetshi-Perricard also showed the muscles to start his season by also reaching the final four of an ATP 250, in Brisbane, last week, a performance which allowed him to regain 30th place in the world, his best ranking.
The winner will have an affordable second round before possibly meeting the American Taylor Fritz, seeded N.4, in the third.
The N.1 and 2 tricolors, Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils, respectively seeded N.14 and 20, could also face each other in the third round.
But to do this they will have to respect the hierarchy in the first, during which Fils will be opposed to the Finn Otto Virtanen (23 years old, 92nd), and Humbert to the Italian Matteo Gigante (23 years old), 146th in the ATP but who is not lost no sets in three qualifying rounds.
– Pouille inherits from Zverev –
Also at the bottom of the table, Lucas Pouille, 104th in the ATP but beneficiary of an invitation, drew one of the jackpots since he will have to battle against the world No.2, the German Alexander Zverev.
There are five French people in total to have inherited a seed in the first round, including Pouille but also Arthur Cazaux, who caused a sensation last year in Melbourne by reaching the 8th. The Montpellier native, 80th in the world, will face the Argentinian Sebastian Baez (N.28) and, in the event of success, will have his work cut out to repeat last year’s feat since the Australian Nick Kyrgios and especially Zverev will a priori stand in its way.
There will also be a question of exploit, from the 1st round, for Arthur Rinderknech (against the American Frances Tiafoe) or Adrian Mannarino (against the Russian Karen Khachanov).
As for Alexandre Muller, who has just won the first ATP 250 title of his career at the age of 27 (in Hong Kong), he will have to beat the Portuguese Nuno Borges, 20 ranks ahead of him in the rankings (36th).
If no Frenchman left the qualifiers, there are eleven on the starting line, against only five Frenchwomen.
– Garcia pas favorite –
The French N.1, Caroline Garcia, should be entitled to a tempting reunion with Naomi Osaka, whom she beat last year in the first round. The Lyonnaise will not necessarily be favored by the forecasts, however, as she comes out of a break of several months to preserve her health.
Garcia fell to 58th place, not very far from the Japanese (50th), but the former world No.1, who had cut even longer, seems on the verge of regaining her level.
“New year, same draw. It’s starting to be a classic,” rejoiced the Frenchwoman, former world No.4 in any case.
There remains a serious doubt for Osaka since she had to withdraw from the final of the Auckland tournament last Sunday due to “an abdominal injury”.
For Diane Parry (66th), the challenge will also be taken up against the Croatian Donna Vekic (N.18). The only Frenchwoman from qualifying, Léolia Jeanjean (149th) will try at 29 to win her first match in the main draw in Melbourne, against the British Jodie Burrage, 173rd but who has already reached 85th place in the world.
. Australian Open first round draw (January 12-26):
Men
-Adrian Mannarino (73e) – Karen Khachanov (RUS/N.19)
Gaël Monfils (52nd) – Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard (N.30)
Arthur Rinderknech (60th) – Frances Tiafoe (USA/N.17)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS/N.25) – Corentin Moutet
Hugo Gaston (81e) – Omar Jasika (AUS/180e)
David Goffin (BEL/53e) – Benjamin Bonzi (70e)
Alexandre Muller (56e) – Nuno Borges (POR/36e)
Ugo Humbert (N.14) – Matteo Gigante (ITA, 146e)
Adam Walton (AUS/91e) – Quentin Halys (71e)
Otto Virtanen (FIN/92nd) – Arthur Fils (N.20)
Sebastian Baez (ARG/N.28) – Arthur Cazaux (80th)
Lucas Pouille (104th) – Alexander Zverev (GER/N.2)
Dames
Diane Parry (66e) – Donna Vekic (CRO/N.18)
Cristina Bucsa (ESP/21st) – Chloé Paquet (123rd)
Naomi Osaka (JPN/50e) – Caroline Garcia (58e)
Varvara Gracheva (69e) – Catherine McNally (USA/540e)
Léolia Jeanjean (149th) – Jodie Burrage (GBR/173rd)
gk/smr/bdu
