Much to the delight of tennis fans around the world, Gael Monfils’ swan song in New York City continues on Thursday night.

The Frenchman made relatively quick work of Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in Round 1, setting up a tilt with American star Learner Tien under the lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Thursday night.

The odds suggest this could be the last time we see Monfils compete at the U.S. Open, as Tien is a -520 favorite to eliminate the affable Parisian in Round 2.

Can Monfils pull another rabbit out of his hat and delight the crowd?

US Open: Monfils vs. Tien pick

More an entertainer than a competitor, Monfils is always full of surprises.

He will attempt to do things nobody sees coming, which is a big part of the reason why he’s a crowd favorite. It’s also a key to his success, especially when he’s an underdog.

With his best days behind him, Monfils needs to keep his opponents guessing and entice them into playing his style of flamboyant tennis if he’s going to pull the upset.

Tien will know this better than most, as he just played Monfils in Montreal.

The American took that contest in three sets, but there were times when La Monf wrestled control of the match and had Tien chasing his tail a bit.

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While Monfils will do everything he can to get this match to zig and zag, Tien, the No. 14 seed at the U.S. Open, will want to keep it simple.

He can wallop the ball from the baseline and will try to get Monfils running the baseline to stay in points. If he can zap the 40-year-old’s legs, Tien should cruise.

That will be easier said than done.

It’s one thing to stand back and rally against a more traditional player, but Monfils is a master at interrupting rhythm with unexpected drop shots and acrobatics. It may not come off, but it forces his opponents to think a little bit more than they want, which is never a good thing in tennis.

Tien probably has enough firepower to get this one over the line, but I expect Monfils to make him work for it.

The Play: Tien to win in 5 sets (+500, FanDuel)

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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.