Australian Open R3 previews and predictions: Goffin vs. Rublev, Monfils vs. Gulbis

Andrey Rublev is 10-0 so far this season, but a tough test in the form of David Goffin stands in his way of the Australian Open fourth round. Gael Monfils and Ernests Gulbis are also in action on Saturday afternoon.

(11) David Goffin vs. (17) Andrey Rublev

Although he may still be lacking a signature win over one of the world’s best players, Rublev is without question the hottest player on tour heading into the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday. The world No. 16 reeled off back-to-back titles in Doha and Adelaide, and so far in Melbourne he has disposed of Christopher O’Connell (four sets) and Yuichi Sugita (straight).

Up next for Rublev is a second career meeting with Goffin. Their only previous encounter came at the 2018 U.S. Open, where the Russian prevailed 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-3 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals at the expense of an injury-plagued opponent. Goffin has no such physical issues this time around, but blowing a two-set lead over Pierre-Hugues Herbert and getting pushed to five on Thursday night is cause for concern. Rublev’s superior firepower–and his confidence–will likely make the difference in this one.

Pick: Rublev in 4

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(10) Gael Monfils vs. (Q) Ernests Gulbis

Gulbis is back from the proverbial dead. From completely out of nowhere, Gulbis has compiled a 5-0 record a tournament he used to despise. The 256th-ranked Latvian qualified for the main draw with ease, upset Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets, and then erased Aljaz Bedene 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

Saturday marks the fourth meeting between these two veterans, with Monfils sweeping the head-to-head series 3-0 (2-0 at the ATP level). They most recently faced each other on the indoor hard courts of the Kaohsiung Challenger in 2018, when Monfils got the job done 7-6(4), 6-2. The 10th-ranked Frenchman is always a question mark from a physical standpoint, but so far this fortnight he has ousted Yen-Hsun Lu and Ivo Karlovic while surrendering one set to Karlovic in the process. If and only if Monfils is 100 percent, he should advance by making Gulbis hit too many balls.

Pick: Monfils in 4

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