Fils and Humbert Prepare for Monte-Carlo Showdown

MONTE-CARLO, Monaco — French tennis star Arthur Fils is set to open his Monte-Carlo campaign on Tuesday against Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor, while countryman Ugo Humbert faces Australian Alexei Popyrin in a thrilling first round of the tournament.

The 20-year-old Fils currently ranks 15th in the ATP standings, his highest career ranking to date. He enters the clay season after impressive performances at the Indian Wells and Miami Masters, where he reached the quarterfinals and notably defeated world No. 2 Alexander Zverev.

Fils has shown versatility on different surfaces throughout his career, boasting two clay titles and one on hard courts. His popularity among French fans adds an exciting dynamic as he competes at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

On the other hand, Tallon Griekspoor recently made it to the final in Marrakech. However, he did so without facing anyone ranked within the ATP top 70. Additionally, fatigue could impact Griekspoor, who’s coming off a final appearance just days before facing an in-form Fils.

The support from a home crowd is expected to bolster Fils, making him a strong contender for a decisive victory. Experts predict Fils will win in straight sets.

In the other matchup, Ugo Humbert, ranked 20th globally, aims to capitalize on the home-crowd advantage. Despite being a familiar face in French tennis, Humbert has struggled considerably on clay with a 14-30 record on this surface and has yet to secure a clay-court title.

Conversely, Alexei Popyrin has experienced a rocky start to his 2025 season, winning only two out of seven tournaments. While Popyrin tends to perform better on clay than Humbert, his current form raises questions about his ability to recover against the Frenchman.

Humbert and Popyrin have each secured one win against the other in their previous encounters, but Popyrin holds the edge with a victory on clay. The Monte-Carlo crowd’s encouragement may push Humbert across the finish line.

As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on these two matches as Fils and Humbert vie to advance further in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.