Day 4 of the main draw action here at the ATP Open Sud de France in Montpellier promises to be another exciting day with five Round of 16 clashes scheduled. We’ll get to know our final eight as the tournament begins to heat up. We at LWOT preview and predict all five Round of 16 matches scheduled for Day 4.
ATP Montpellier Day 4 Predictions
Aljaz Bedene vs Egor Gerasimov
Head to head: First Meeting
Aljaz Bedene might be the silent killer this week as he held his nerve against Jannik Sinner in a third set tiebreak. The Slovenian didn’t look flustered at all and that was something very refreshing to see. His Round of 16 opponent, Egor Gerasimov, is coming off of his own superb performance against Andy Murray.
Bedene’s flat groundstrokes are very potent on the indoor hard courts but that said, Gerasimov’s shots are certainly heavier from the baseline. Expect Gerasimov to absolutely crush the ball for a set but Bedene’s superior consistency off both wings should see him through.
Prediction: Bedene in 3
Peter Gojowczyk vs Jiri Vesely
Head to head: First Meeting
Whoever wins this clash will be a surprise entrant to the quarterfinals. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve it. Peter Gojowczyk and Jiri Vesely both enter this match on the back of impressive straight sets victory against decent opponents. The German can at times produce good and consistent tennis but is overpowered more often than not. Expect Vesely to be able to do that with his forehand and if he serves like he did in his opening match, the Czech should be the one progressing.
Prediction: Vesely in 2
Dusan Lajovic vs Dennis Novak
Head to head: Lajovic 1-0 Novak
It was a breathtaking match in the first round for Dennis Novak. The Austrian battled hard against veteran Gilles Simon and deserved the victory in the end. His next opponent in Dusan Lajovic will provide a much tougher task for Novak. Lajovic had a good Australian Open reaching the fourth round and the Serb looks set to continue that good form. Expect Novak to make this match a competitive one but Lajovic carries too much form to let this one go.
Prediction: Lajovic in 3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head to head – Fokina 1-0 Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz won his first tournament of 2021 but in his subsequent two tournaments he’s failed to replicate that. The Pole plays his best on fast indoor courts and Montpellier should be a good match for Hurkacz. He needs to be wary though of his first match opponent in Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as the Spaniard has already beaten him once. Fokina didn’t look at his best in his opening round match losing his serve five times.
Hurkacz should’ve regrouped post the Australian Open and has the firepower to beat the likes of Fokina. Expect the Pole to exploit Fokina’s slightly wayward form and progress ahead.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 2
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Gregoire Barrere
Head to head – First Meeting
Robert Bautista Agut will be hoping his first round exit at the Australian Open is just a blip and the Spaniard is very capable of bouncing back. Gregoire Barrere has played a solid tournament so far coming through the qualifiers and seems like he enjoys Montpellier. Barrere will be hoping Bautista Agut is a bit slow to get off the mark but as soon as the Spaniard finds his feet, it should be one way traffic in the favour of the top seed. Expect Bautista Agut’s flat groundstrokes to do the damage and fetch him the victory.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
