Day 3 of the ATP 250 in Montpellier is here! An exciting week of tennis in France is heating up and it will be fascinating to see who can move on! Who will reach the next round and who will fall short? Read on to find out!
ATP Montpellier Day 3 Predictions
Adrian Mannarino vs Alexei Popyrin
Head to Head: never played
Adrian Mannarino has started off the season slow, going 0-3 so far in 2020. Alexei Popyrin had a pretty good result at the Australian Open, reaching the third round before falling to Daniil Medvedev. Mannarino, a lefty, has an awkward game for opponents in how flat he hits his serve and groundstrokes. Popyrin plays power tennis and likes to rip his shots. Popyrin’s forehand is very good. Mannarino, despite his struggles so far this season, has the game to trouble Popyrin. The flat-nature of his shots will make Popyrin have to hit groundstrokes out of his strike-zone, which could lead to mishits and discomfort from Popyrin. Expect Mannarino to win a close one.
Prediction: Mannarino in 3
Ugo Humbert vs Feliciano Lopez
Head to Head: never played
Ugo Humbert started the season strong with his first ATP Tour title in Auckland. However, he struggled at the Australian Open, losing in the first round of John Millman. 38 year-old Feliciano Lopez has had a mediocre 2-2 beginning of the season. Lopez’s lefty serve, cutting volleys, and backhand slice are tough for opponents to handle. Humbert plays a powerful lefty game, using his forehand to control the court. Humbert also will have the crowd on his side, given that he is French. Expect Humbert to be a little better with his groundstrokes compared to Lopez and that should win him the match.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
Gilles Simon vs Richard Gasquet
Head to Head: 8-2 Gasquet
Gilles Simon has went 2-2 to start the season and lost in the second round of the Australian Open to Nick Kyrgios. Richard Gasquet hasn’t played yet in 2020, having had surgery on his groin. Gasquet has dominated the head to head, leading 8-2. But, his injury makes his condition for this match a question mark. Simon will get a lot of balls in play and is one of the most consistent players on tour. When healthy, Gasquet’s one-handed backhand is one of the most beautiful, and effective, shots on the tour. However, given Gasquet’s unknown injury status, combined with Simon’s ability to get a lot of balls in play, Simon should win this match.
Prediction: Simon in 2
Vasek Pospisil vs Denis Shapovalov
Head to Head: 2-0 Shapovalov
Vasek Pospisil has had a pretty good start to the season and played a good match to beat Aljaz Bedene in straight sets in the first round. Denis Shapovalov played good tennis at the very beginning of the season, but had a disappointing Australian Open, falling in the first round to Marton Fucsovics.
Pospisil’s net game is world-class and he is very dangerous when he is able to get to the net often. Shapovalov plays a powerful lefty game, but while Youzhny did well to get him to play with more restraint for a while, he reverted back to old, wild habits at the Australian Open. Shapovalov leads the head to head 2-0 and beat Pospisil in straight sets in Auckland this year. Pospisil played very well against Bedene and should make this match a little closer than Auckland, but Shapovalov is still the better player and should win this match.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 3
Grigor Dimitrov vs Gregoire Barrere
Head to Head: never played
Grigor Dimitrov will try to recover from a disappointing Australian Open campaign where he lost in the second round. Gregoire Barrere has had a decent start to the season and beat Joao Sousa in straight sets to make the second round of Montpellier. Dimitrov has an all-around game and picks great times to go to the net. Dimitrov’s backhand slice is one of the best on tour and he is very precise on his serve. Barrere’s forehand and serve are good, but not on the level of Dimitrov’s. Dimitrov is the much better player with a much more dynamic game and he should win this match without too many problems.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
Disagree with our ATP Montpellier Day 3 Predictions? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
