Expect plenty of exciting tennis on day three at the ATP Montpellier Open, with six intriguing matches, featuring first and second round action, on the slate in Southern France. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Filip Krajinovic vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But who will advance?
ATP Montpellier Day 3 Predictions
Richard Gasquet vs Ugo Humbert
Head-to-head: Gasquet 1-0 Humbert
The pair just met a few weeks ago at the Australian Open and to the shock of many, it was the older of the two Frenchmen who got the win. Mind you, Ugo Humbert did come into that match having recovered coronavirus just a few days earlier. Unfortunately for Richard Gasquet, the veteran was forced to retire midway through his second-round match, which leaves questions about his fitness as well. This is a tossup for so many reasons, but if both are totally fit it’s hard to see Humbert losing this, with Gasquet is a shadow of a player he once was.
Prediction: Humbert in 2
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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: first meeting
Adrian Mannarino is coming into Montpellier fresh from a great second week showing at the Australian Open where he lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal. Now back home, some of his best results have come on indoor hard-court and it’s easy to see why with his incredibly flat groundstrokes. Keeping that in mind, despite Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s big forehand, expect Mannarino’s seemingly effortless ability to redirect pace and flat shots to do all the damage on a surface at the ATP Montpellier Open that suits his style of play.
Prediction: Mannarino in 2
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Gilles Simon vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: Simon 5-2 Bautista Agut
It’s easy to see why Gilles Simon leads this head-to-head: he’s a brick wall who Roberto Bautista Agut has struggled to find a way past for a majority of their careers. But in 2021 it’s a very different story, Simon had a great win over fellow Frenchman Pouille in three sets in the first round but this is now an entirely different match with the Spaniard having won six of his last eight matches on Tour. Just like their last meeting, Bautista Agut should get the win in straight sets.
Prediction: Bautista-Agut in 2
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