US Open preview: Tien brings rankings and form edge over Monfils

Learner Tien meets Gael Monfils in the second round of the US Open on hard courts on 2 September, with best-of-five sets deciding a place in the last 32. Tien is ranked 12th, while Monfils sits at 305th.

The market and recent form both point firmly towards Tien. He beat Monfils in their only meeting this season and arrives with fresher legs and stronger hard-court numbers.

Tien took their Montreal meeting in three sets

They have met once this year. Learner Tien won that Montreal match in three sets on 6 August, 2-1, with a deciding set. The game count finished level at 12-12, but Tien landed 63% of first serves compared with 43% for Gael Monfils and saved more break points.

Tien's hard-court volume and wins stand out

Tien has played far more hard-court tennis this season. His record is 16 wins and 9 losses, while Monfils is 4-6 on the surface. Tien holds serve 80% of the time and converts 44% of break chances; Monfils is at 78% and 38%.

Last ten matches lean clearly towards Tien

Tien's recent form is stronger across the last ten matches. He has six wins to Monfils' four, and his first-set win rate of 60% compares with 40%. Monfils has also spent more time on court recently, around seven hours over his last three matches, against just over five hours for Tien.

Bookmakers give Tien a commanding position

Bookmakers have made Tien a clear favourite. He is priced at 1.2, with Monfils at 4.5. First-set prices follow the same pattern: 1.33 against 3.4.

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Serve and return pressure swing the contest to Tien

The gap between the two rankings is stark: 12 against 305. Tien's first-serve accuracy and break-point conversion give him more control of important moments. Monfils can still hit through opponents, but his first-set struggles and heavier recent workload are hard to shake off.

Prediction

Odds