After a long journey through the desert, Gael Monfils seems to find a more consistent tennis. The French back in the top 100 on Monday, thanks to his last two tournaments. Winner of Bordeaux challenger and finalist in Nice, “the Monf” restarts the fight Monday at the Porte d’Auteuil.

Indeed, he will face the World No. 6 Tomas Berdych in the first round of the second Grand Slam of the season. Absent last year, Monfils is still in great shape on the clay in Paris. Motivated by his start of the competition, he must above all overcome the fatigue “When I face Berdych, I will give 100%, but I will not be 100%,” he declared after the final against Albert Montanes on Saturday.

Seeded No. 5 in the Paris ocher surface, the Czech has never lost against the Caribbean: Madrid 2012 (6-1 6-1), Montpellier 2012 (6-2 4-6 6-3) and Dubai 2008 (6-3 6-2). The 81st World has also not beaten Top 20 players this season. If he does not stand with the benefit of forecasts, Gaël Monflis can be inspired by the feat of his compatriot Stephane Robert (Ed, 140th world at the time) who defeated surprisingly Berdych in the first round of Roland Garros in 2011.

The former World No. 7 has, in the past, reached the semifinals at Porte d’Auteuil in 2008 and played the quarterfinals in 2009 and 2011. The winner of this explanation could be known after a match in five sets.