5 dark horses who could score big at the French Open 2016

Gael Monfils

The Frenchman was a finalist at the Monte Carlo Masters this yeaer

Monfils is a very skilled player, but perhaps lacks the tactician’s ability that has seen many of his colleagues win Grand Slam titles.

The tall Frenchman has done fairly well this clay court season, meeting Rafael Nadal at the finals of the Monte Carlo Masters and bageling him before eventually losing.

Although he has not been able to replicate that performance across tournaments, the Frenchman is doubtless skilled on clay, and has historically done well at the French Open.

He has progressed as far as the semi-finals on the clay courts of Roland Garros, losing to then World No. 1 Roger Federer at the top of his form – and managing to scalp a set off him.

That game was also played fairly closely, and the Swiss, who has been virtually unbeatable for most players throughout his long, illustrious career, has been Monfils’ nemesis at the Slam.

The Swiss and the Frenchman have faced each other on three occasions in the past at the French Open, with Federer coming out on top each time.

Monfils has managed to seriously trouble Andy Murray at the tournament, a notable feat given the Scot, currently the third-ranked player in the world and even in 2014, at the time of their last French Open showdown, was a top-10 player – and has been quite successful on clay.

He took Murray to 5 sets – entirely replicating the Scot’s scoreline of the first two sets before eventually being bageled in the final set.

Given his history with the court and the fact that he will have home support, Monfils, who is currently ranked 14th on the ATP rankings, will need consistency and strategic, tactical play to be a title contender for a Slam for which he possesses the skills.