Gael Monfil is fresh from winning the ATP World Tour singles title in Doha, Qatar on the weekend

SOUTH Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis says Frenchman Gael Monfils is one of the most underrated men on the circuit before the pair face off at the World Tennis Challenge tonight.

Thanasi Kokkinakis pictured on the Adelaide Oval Plaza with Memorial Drive Tennis Centre in background. Kokkinakis is set to play his first match against Frenchman Gael Monfils on Monday. Picture by Matt Turner.

SOUTH Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis says Frenchman Gael Monfils is one of the most underrated men on the circuit before the pair face off at the World Tennis Challenge tonight.

The 31-year-old is fresh from winning the ATP World Tour singles title in Doha, Qatar on the weekend.

“I think he is one of the best players never to win a (Grand) Slam,’’ Kokkinakis, 21, said before facing Monfils for the first time, at Memorial Drive.

“Gee, that guy is talented - he is an unbelievable player, I think he’s beaten all the top players but I think the thing that stops him a little bit is his focus.

“(But) who knows? If he is jet-lagged he’ll still move quicker than everyone else.

“He is a freak of an athlete.”

Currently ATP ranked 46th, Monfils defeated Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-3 in 61 minutes in the final in Doha and was expected in Adelaide last night.

Kokkinakis returns to Memorial Drive for the first time since he was 17, in fine form after winning twice at WA’s Hopman Cup.

He also captured his biggest-ever tennis scalp in a stunning win over Germany’s ATP fourth ranked Alexander Zverev 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 on Friday night.

“It was good - I had a few good matches, it’s such a good event in Perth,’’ he said.

“It’s the perfect preparation leading into the Australian Open and here (in SA).

After Kokkinakis was knocked off the circuit in 2016 and 2017 by an injury curse which saw him struggle with shoulder, groin and pectoral problems, the South Australian said he was a little sore after Friday’s clash.

He worked through the pain barrier in a solid practice session revealing his timing was very good on the fast court.

“Injury-wise I’m felling pretty good, and hopefully I should be close to 100 per cent by tomorrow (Monday),’’ Kokkinakis said.

“Having not played since the US Open and two tournament since Wimbledon (in 2017) has made it tough.”