It’s going to be an exciting Day 3 at Montpellier. First round action continues along side second round clashes as well. There are three R32 and three R16 matches scheduled. We preview and predict all the six clashes. The Round of 32 matches are in this article, with the Round of 16 matches in the other.
ATP Montpellier Day 3 Predictions
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Head to head: First Meeting
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has a good opportunity to kick start his 2021 season as his section of the draw is manageable if Fokina plays his best tennis. His opponent Bernabe Zapata Miralles has played a lot of tournaments this year reaching the final in one of the challenger events. It’ll be interesting to see how Miralles goes this year but Fokina should over power the elder Spaniard.
Prediction: Fokina in 2
Gregoire Barrere vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head to head – Basilashvili 1-0 Barrere
Nikoloz Basilashvili hasn’t quite started 2021 the way he would’ve wanted to. The Georgian is definitely more capable and on indoor courts his baseline game can be a handful. Gregoire Barrere has been on the tour since 2012 but the Frenchman is yet to win a title and it’s likely Basilashvili will out hit the Frenchman.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 2
Jannik Sinner vs Aljaz Bedene
Head to head – Sinner 1-1 Bedene
It’s a tough opening match for Aljaz Bedene. The Slovenian lost to Jannik Sinner in the lead up to the Australian Open and the Italian went on to win that tournament. Sinner has grown leaps and bounds the past year and he’s a real threat on the faster courts. Expect the Italian to make a strong start here against a player he’s already beaten in straight sets this year.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Main Photo from Getty.