[Trending News] ATP Dubai: Matteo Berrettini vs Gael Monfils; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

“I was outplayed by just a better player today,” – Novak Djokovic. Matteo Berrettini’s incredible performance in the first round of the Qatar Open drew praise even from the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Although he couldn’t clinch the title in Doha, Berrettini’s journey to the Middle East swing was far from over.

He’s now all set to take on the 38-year-old Frenchman, Gael Monfils, in the first round (R32) of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Who’ll win this battle of the two former world number 6?

Matteo Berrettini vs Gael Monfils: Preview

Berrettini looked in good touch at Doha. He forced Djokovic to taste his first opening-round loss since April 2022! However, the Italian Jack Draper (GBR) in the QF by 6-4,4-6,3-6. Can Matteo Berrettini bounce back from that defeat and make a similar long run in Dubai as well?

Well, at first he needs to overcome the French hurdle!

Gael Monfils has already won a title this season. However, the Frenchman hasn’t played a competitive match since his fourth-round match at the 2025 AO. In the match against Ben Shelton, he retired mid-match because of an injury. Monfils was trailing by 6(3)-7,7-6(3),6(2)-7,0-1 when he finally took the call to give a walkover to the American in that epic fourth-round clash. So, even the Frenchman will be keen to make a strong comeback with a winning start in Dubai.

Berrettini vs Monfils: Head-to-Head

Matteo Berrettini and Gael Monfils have faced each other three times in their careers. Currently, it has been a one-man show with Berrettini taking a 3-0 lead in their H2H record. It’ll be interesting to see if Monfils can finally change his fortune against the Italian in this epic battle in Dubai. You never know what happens with Monfils. Sometimes he’s hot and sometimes he’s cold, but he puts on a show for the ages.

• 2022 Australian Open QF: Berrettini 6-4,6-4,3-6,3-6,6-2.
• 2021 ATP Cup Round Robin: Berrettini 6-4,6-2.
• 2019 US Open QF: Berrettini 3-6,6-3,6-2,3-6,7-6(5).

Prediction: Berrettini to win in three sets

Although Gael Monfils tasted success in this success, we feel he might enter this match with a little rustiness after taking such a long gap after the AO. On the other hand, Matteo Berrettini will enter this match with full confidence, especially after securing quite a few impressive performances in his previous tournament. So, considering this factor and their H2H record, we’re keeping the Italian slightly ahead in this contest.

However, if we look at the numbers, Monfils (40) currently has a win-loss record of 8-2 in 2025. Whereas, it’s just 3-4 for the Italian at the moment. So, banking on his performances in his previous tournaments, we can undoubtedly say the Frenchman will surely put up some serious fight in this epic matchup. Hence, we might see an epic three-setter on Tuesday!

If we explore their playing styles, Gael Monfils is more of a baseliner who relies on placement and consistency to beat his opponents. His incredible court coverage and agility, even at 38, make him a really special player on the Tour. Monfils can also switch from defense to offense pretty quickly. His vast experience may make things a bit tougher for Berrettini, but is it enough to topple the in-form Italian?

Perhaps, no! Matteo Berrettini is an aggressive all-court player who’s mainly known for his strong serve and forehand. Talking about serves, do you know Berrettini hit a total of 52 aces in his three matches in Doha? Besides his serves, Berrettini loves setting up quick points and hitting winners with his aggressive play. His transitional and net game remain crucial to his game to finish off points. He is also known for his incredible serve and volley. Matteo Berrettini can disguise his opponents with picture-perfect drop shots on both wings.

However, his biggest weaknesses include his defensive game, consistency, and footwork. Are these weaknesses enough to keep Monfils ahead of Berrettini in this epic battle in Dubai? Well, we feel at the moment the Italian has all the answers to pass this test against the experienced Frenchman.