## French players Gear Up for the Australian open
The 2025 tennis season is in full swing, with the Australian Open set to kick off the Grand Slam calendar.French players are already preparing for their journey Down Under, with some competing in qualifying rounds while others are fine-tuning their game in tournaments like Auckland and Adelaide.
### Monfils Makes a Comeback in Auckland
Gaël Monfils delivered a thrilling comeback victory in the first round of the Auckland Open (ATP 250). Facing a higher-ranked opponent in Spain’s pedro Martinez (ranked 43rd),Monfils,currently ranked 52nd,dropped the first set 6-1. However, he battled back to win the second set in a tie-break (7-67-5) after a grueling 2 hours and 25 minutes. Monfils secured his spot in the round of 16 with his second match point. He will now face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff (ranked 42nd) on January 8th.
meanwhile, Adrien Mannarino’s Auckland campaign ended in the first round with a loss to Argentina’s Mariano Navone.### Cazaux and Guinard Shine in Adelaide
Arthur Cazaux faces a tough challenge in Adelaide, where he will take on Canada’s Félix Augier-Aliassime in the round of 16. The ATP 250 tournament boasts a strong field, including American stars Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda, as well as players like Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jiri Lehecka, and Brandon Nakashima.
Another Frenchman making waves in Adelaide is Manuel Guinard.The 29-year-old Breton, ranked 261st and a lucky loser in the draw, pulled off an upset victory over Russia’s Roman Safiullin (7-67-4, 2-6, 6-1).
### Mixed Results in Australian Open Qualifying
The Australian Open qualifying rounds have seen mixed fortunes for French players. Veteran Richard Gasquet, competing in his final Australian open, was eliminated in the first round. Ugo Blanchet, Harold Mayot, Hugo Grenier, Jessika Ponchet, and Alice Tubello also failed to advance.
however,France’s contingent of 17 players has shown resilience,with a significant number securing their spots in the main draw. On the men’s side, Clément Chidekh, Valentin Royer, Térence Atmane, and Titouan Droguet all progressed. For the women, Carole Monnet, Séléna Janicijevic, Léolia Jeanjean, and kristina Mladenovic emerged victorious.
comeback Kings and Emerging Stars: A Look at French Tennis’s Australian open aspirations
Welcome sports fanatics, to another exciting edition of “On the Baseline”! Today we have the privilege of hosting former French tennis star, Amélie Mauresmo, who will share her insights on the 2025 Australian Open and the performance of the French contingent. Welcome Amélie!
Amélie: Thank you so much for having me. It’s always exciting to discuss the Australian Open, and especially the prospects of my fellow Frenchmen and women.
Moderator: Indeed! Let’s start with Gaël Monfils’ gritty comeback win in Auckland against Pedro Martinez. A vintage Monfils performance, wouldn’t you say?
Amélie: Absolutely! Gaël has always been known for his fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. Coming back from a set down against a player like Pedro,who’s been playing well,shows that he still has that competitive fire burning brightly. it’s fantastic to see him battling for wins again.
Moderator: A tough round of 16 opponent awaits him in Jan-Lennard Struff. Your thoughts on that match-up?
Amélie: Struff is a formidable opponent – strong serve,aggressive groundstrokes. It will be a real test for Gaël. But if he can pull out the same kind of resilience we saw against Martinez, he’s got a fighting chance. He’ll need to exploit Struff’s tendency to be inconsistent and capitalize on any opportunities he gets.
Moderator: Shifting gears to adelaide, both Arthur Cazaux and Manuel Guinard are having impressive runs. Cazaux against Augier-aliassime will be a real David and Goliath showdown, wouldn’t you say?
Amélie: It definitely will be! Félix is a top player with immense talent. This is a great chance for Arthur to test himself against one of the best. He’s shown excellent form so far, so I’m hopeful he can make a good account of himself, even if he’s the underdog. As for Manuel, what a fantastic story! He’s a classic “lucky loser” who’s capitalized on his opportunity to upset a higher ranked player. There’s a lot to admire about his grit and determination.
Moderator: Now, let’s talk about the mixed bag of results in Australian Open qualifying. The retirement of Richard Gasquet is quite poignant – a fitting tribute to a consummate professional, wouldn’t you say?
Amélie: Absolutely. Richard has been a true statesman of French tennis for so many years. His loss is felt, but it’s heartwarming to see a new generation plus some seasoned players stepping up. It’s always challenging to navigate those qualifying rounds,but I’m heartened by Tenisswell seeing so many French players making it to the main draw. It speaks volumes about the depth of talent in French tennis.
Moderator: Let’s open this up to our readers. What are your thoughts on French tennis’s prospects at the Aus open? Do you think they have what it takes to make a deep run? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
Let me know your thoughts on these exciting developments in French tennis! I’m eager to hear your opinions!
