Gael Monfils vs Zizou Bergs Prediction ATP Auckland Tennis Picks 1/11/25

Gael Monfils became the second-oldest player to reach an ATP final in 35 years at the 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland. Monfils reached the title match by ending American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy's fairytale run in Friday's semifinal.

Experience won over youth as 38-year-old Monfils took an hour and 48 minutes to secure his spot in the final. The match took 23 games to decide.

Monfils produced 20 winners and 31 unforced errors, including seven aces and two double faults.

Monfils landed 56% of first serves and won 76% of first-serve points (37/49). The Frenchman won 54% of second-serve points (21/39)and held in all 11 of his service games.

Monfils won 25% of return points (15/59) and converted 1 of 11 break points in the match.

It is the third match in a row that Monfils has won in straight sets, having also beaten Jan-Lennard Struff and Facundo Diaz Acosta. The only time he lost a set was in the opening win over Pedro Martinez.

Three of Monfils' matches this week have featured at least one tie-break set.

Zizou Bergs Preview

Zizou Bergs is coming off a three-set win over Nuno Borges of Portugal with the Belgian picking up his seventh win from eight matches to start 2025.

Bergs came through qualifying at the ASB Classic in Auckland, then reached his first ATP semifinal after beating Roberto Carballes Baena in three sets.

Bergs was cruising to victory when he led 6-2, 2-0, but won only one of the next seven games as Borges came roaring back. But the 25-year-old Belgian was not to be denied in the decider, as he broke Borges twice in the third set despite the Portuguese player serving for the match at 5-4 up.

In the victory, which took over two hours, Begs hammered 34 winners and 53 unforced errors. He landed 55% of first serves and won 65% of first-serve points (31/48). Bergs won 51% of second-serve points (20/39) and saved three of seven break points.

He is just the second Belgian player to reach an ATP final since 2022.

Gael Monfils vs Zizou Bergs Head-To-Head

• Monfils and Bergs have never met on tour, so this Auckland final will be their first match at this level.

Gael Monfils vs Zizou Bergs Prediction

I'm siding with the experience and athleticism of the evergreen Monfils here. Bergs is playing in his first final and is bound to encounter some nerves early on. It's a special moment for him without a doubt, but this is probably the biggest challenge he could possibly face this week.

Monfils is not the force of his former self. Endurance is no longer his asset with the Frenchman's legs regularly giving away. But he's found a way to adapt as is most of the players in their late thirties, winning points efficiently and without that exuberance and flashy shots that keep the crowd entertained. Monfils can overtake Roger Federer to become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title and he'll probably never get a better chance to win his 13th career title.