As usual, plenty of Frenchmen are in action in Montpellier on Monday. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will compete against Arthur Gea, while Adrian Mannarino faces Pedro Martinez.
(WC) Arthur Gea vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Gea made a name for himself at the Australian Open, where he managed to score important points, upset Jiri Lehecka, and then lost to Stan Wawrinka in the fifth game. It was Wawrinka’s last win at Melbourne Park, and was the highlight of the tournament before the five-setter in the men’s semi-finals. Up to a career high of 168, the 21-year-old Frenchman will try to keep the momentum going at the Open Occitanie.
It will be a French affair when Gea and Champion Perricard clash for the first time in their professional careers on Monday. Coach Perricard reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Brisbane and Auckland before dropping his opening match in Melbourne to red-hot Sebastian Baez. With more experience at the ATP level and a strong indoor court environment that suits his game, the world No. 57 should progress without too much trouble.
Pick: Peaches Perricard at 2
Pedro Martinez vs. Adrian Mannarino
Mannarino and Martinez, – very different from Perricard and Gea – who have been around forever, will also be clashing for the first time in their careers on Monday. It’s hard to call, as both players are in dangerous form. Mannarino is 0-4 this season and lost his first round match last week at the Quimper Challenger to Remy Bertola in straight sets. Martinez fell in the second round of Quimper to Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg.
Given that these two verterans play equally bad tennis, the face may decide this matchup. Martinez is 17-29 years old on hard indoor courts; Mannarino is 133-209. The 37-year-old Frenchman also has the advantage of playing in front of his home crowd. Mannarino has advanced at least one round in three of his four trips to Montpellier, so look for the left-hander to do the same in 2026.
Pick: Mannarino at 3
