Montpellier picks, including Griekspoor vs. Van de Zandschulp

A couple of showdowns between countrymen headline the order of play in Montpellier on Tuesday. An all-Dutch showdown pits Tallon Griekspoor against Botic van de Zandschulp, while Richard Gasquet faces fellow Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

(5) Tallon Griekspoor vs. Botic van de Zandschulp

Griekspoor and Van de Zandschulp will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Open Occitanie on Tuesday afternoon. It is a battle between Dutchmen and occasional doubles partners, one that is a proverbial rubber match since they have split their four previous meetings–two on the main tour and two at the Challenger level. They most recently squared off at the 2023 Australian Open, where Griekspoor cruised 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Van de Zandschulp twice made headlines in 2024 by stunning Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open and ending Rafael Nadal’s career in the Davis Cup Finals, but it was otherwise a terrible year for the world No. 84. Neither man has won a match this season; Van de Zandschulp lost to Nishesh Basavareddy in Auckland qualifying and Alex de Minaur at the Aussie Open, while Griekspoor fell right away in Melbourne at the hands of Hubert Hurkacz. Ranked 46th, Griekspoor has been the considerably better player in recent seasons and his indoor success last year included semifinal showings in Rotterdam and Stockholm.

Pick: Griekspoor in 2

Adrian Mannarino vs. Richard Gasquet

Gasquet and Mannarino will also be facing each other for the fifth time on Tuesday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-1 in favor of Gasquet (2-1 at the ATP level). An Aix-en-Provence Challenger match in 2024 went Gasquet’s way via a 6-2, 6-2 beatdown.

Both veteran Frenchmen appear to be slowing down in a big way. Gasquet, 38, is down at No. 132 in the world and has won a mere four main-tour matches dating back to the start of 2024. Mannarino was on fire at times in 2023, but the 36-year-old went 15-31 last season–a record that included a 1-17 stretch from Indian Wells in March through Winston-Salem in August. The world No. 108 has at least won a handful of matches since then, but he hasn’t yet picked up a victory in 2025. Absolutely anything could happen in this one, but the soon-to-be-retired Gasquet seems like the more motivated of the two competitors.

Pick: Gasquet in 3