Former champion Gael Monfils will take on World No. 243 Yibing Wu in the Round of 32 at ATP Washington on Tuesday.
Monfils, 38, is one of the most beloved players in the sport and will have the backing of the crowd in D.C., but things may not be as straightforward as the odds and tale of the tape suggest for La Monf.
Although he’s ranked outside the top 200, Wu was once ranked No. 54 in the world and became the first Chinese player in the Open Era to win an ATP title when he captured the trophy at ATP Dallas in 2023.
Injuries have followed Wu around since he burst onto the scene a couple of years ago.
A terrific hard-court player at his best, Wu can hit through his opponents and shorten points with his power from the baseline.
That power and his steady play made it look like the native of Hangzhou, China, could become a force on the lower-level ATP tournaments on hard courts, but injuries derailed his career and forced him onto the Challenger Tour for much of 2025.
Wu has had success on the JV circuit, capturing a title on hard courts in Tyler back in June.
Although the quality of competition leaves something to be desired, seeing Wu rack up more wins than losses coming into Washington, which will be the biggest test he’s faced all year.
Wu looked in good form during qualifying, defeating Mitchell Krueger and Corentin Moutet, the No. 1 seed in qualifying, en route to Tuesday’s showdown with Monfils.
And while Monfils can still turn on the jets on a moment’s notice, his current form is lacking. The Frenchman has lost four of his last five matches and could be feeling the effects of a busy schedule in 2025.
Wu’s current ranking is deceiving. He’s a threat to pull the upset against Monfils on Tuesday.
The Play: Yibing Wu +185 (BetMGM)
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.