Marseille previews and picks: Goffin vs. Janowicz, Bautista Agut vs. Pospisil

David Goffin and Jerzy Janowicz will kick off their weeks in Marseille on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Roberto Bautista Agut and Vasek Pospisil are trying to book a spot in the quarterfinals.

Jerzy Janowicz vs. (6) David Goffin

Goffin and Janowicz will be squaring off for the second time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Open 13 on Wednesday. Their only previous encounter came last summer in Winston-Salem, where Goffin’s incredible 25-match winning streak came to a crashing halt in the form of a 6-4, 6-2 setback at the hands of Janowicz.

The 20th-ranked Belgian is no longer in the same scorching form that he enjoyed in 2014, but he should be well-rested coming off a first-round Rotterdam loss to a red-hot Gilles Muller. Janowicz finished runner-up in Montpellier, but a flu forced him to retire in the title match and prevented him from playing last week. Although the 47th-ranked Pole is dangerous indoors, he will likely be facing a more energized Goffin this time around. The No. 6 seed’s returning abilities are almost certain to put pressure on a Janowicz serve that is powerful but often extremely inconsistent.

Pick: Goffin in 3

[polldaddy poll=8663007]

(4) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. Vasek Pospisil

Pospisil kicked off his Marseille campaign on Tuesday by overcoming Robin Haase 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The unseeded Canadian blasted 16 aces compared to zero for Haase and he saved all four of the break points he faced after the opening set. Pospisil is a decent 5-3 for the year with a third-round showing at the Australian Open.

Up next for the world No. 60 is a third career matchup with Bautista Agut. They faced each other twice last season, with both meetings going the way of the Spaniard. He dominated 6-2, 6-2 on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo before surviving a much tougher 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4 test in Shanghai. As those results indicated, Pospisil has a much better chance on hard courts. Bautista Agut has also lost some of the luster that was on display in 2014. The world No. 16 is 4-4 this year with all four of his setbacks coming against lower-ranked opponents.

Pick: Pospisil in 3

[polldaddy poll=8663009]