It should be quite a scene at IGA Stadium when Gael Monfils takes on Kamil Majchrzak in Round 1 of the ATP Canadian Masters.
Monfils, 39, will be retiring at the end of this season, bringing an end to one of the most entertaining tennis careers of this generation.
Ever the showman, Monfils is beloved by all tennis fans, but the fans in Montreal absolutely adore the Frenchman and will be behind him until he bows out.
Still, the odds are decidedly against Monfils for this tilt. Majchrzak, a 30-year-old journeyman, is in the midst of the best stretch of his career. The Pole is a -320 favorite over Monfils in this clash.
Canadian Masters: Monfils vs. Majchrzak odds, prediction
As the odds suggest, this is a tricky draw for Monfils. He’s catching Majchrzak while he’s in the form of his life. Not only is he coming off his first career title at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in June, but he did it the hard way by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, and Daniil Medvedev. He also took down Tommy Paul at ATP Washington last week.
That said, taking on Monfils in this kind of atmosphere is a very different type of test compared to just about anything else.
Monfils has always been an unorthodox opponent thanks to his commitment to entertaining the crowd, but he’s leaned into it even more during his swan song. The final score is not his priority. He just wants to give fans something to remember.
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While that may sound like a bad thing for Monfils bettors, it’s also a nightmare to deal with as an opponent. Monfils will try things that nobody else will, and he’s athletic enough to pull it off. For a player like Majchrzak, who won’t wow you with any part of his skill set, unpredictability is the last thing he wants.
With the crowd behind him and a beatable opponent in front of him, I like the price on Monfils to provide some magic in the City of a Hundred Steeples on Monday.
The Play: Monfils moneyline (+255, FanDuel)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
