Ah, the age-old battle of Michelsen versus Mannarino. You could sell tickets to this, although it would probably be more like selling ice to Eskimos. Anyway, these two clay court Casanovas have a shared history. Michelsen, the younger of the two, having dispatched Mannarino in straight sets in their most recent conquest last June, whereas Mannarino showed young Alex there's still some spark in him with a 2-0 victory in July 2023.

We get a glimpse of this spark from Mannarino in recent games, especially with victories against Hanfmann Y. and Nakagawa N. However, his overall record is as spotty as a teenager with acne - scoring 2 wins and 3 losses. Mannarino's unseeded position in this tournament clarifies his recent dark horse status.

Michelsen, on the other hand, is another story. His recent performances oscillate more than a metronome after three cups of coffee. There have been solid wins against Tien L. and Smith C., sure, but he's also suffered notable defeats at the hands of Shapovalov D., Ugo Carabelli C., and Medvedev D., who apparently decided to not even play a shot and just win by default. Talk about Hubris, eh? Michelsen's 5th seed status reflects this jumbled journey, but let's not forget that he still has age on his side.

So as much as Mannarino brings that cool 'been-there-done-that' vibe to the court, it’s hard to ignore Michelsen’s rosy-hued promise. Even though the margin won't be huge, the moneymakers seem to be singing Michelsen's tune this time around.

Albert’s Prediction: Michelsen in 3 sets