Monte-Carlo R3 previews and predictions: Federer vs. Bautista Agut, Monfils vs. Vesely

Roger Federer will contest the second match of his comeback tournament when he goes up against Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday in Monte-Carlo. Gael Monfils and Jiri Vesely are also in third-round action.

(3) Roger Federer vs. (14) Roberto Bautista Agut

Federer and Bautista Agut will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they battle for a quarterfinal spot at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday. Although the sample size remains small, this is shaping up to go down as one of the most lopsided “rivalries” of the current era. Federer is a perfect 4-0 lifetime at Bautista Agut’s expense and none of their previous meetings has been competitive. The 17-time Grand Slam champion rolled at the 2014 U.S. Open, the 2014 Shanghai Masters, Wimbledon in 2015, and the Cincinnati Masters last summer while racking up set scores of 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and 6-4.

Based on what has transpired so far this week, more of the same could be in store. Federer had not played since the Australian Open due to both a knee injury and illness, but he showed no real signs of rust in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Tuesday. Bautista Agut got past fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 7-6(4) before outlasting Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in two hours and 54 minutes. The world No. 17 is an outstanding 20-6 for the season, but he has cooled off considerably since capturing two titles during the first five weeks. He is also 0-19 in his last 19 matches against top-10 opponents not named Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Another beatdown in Federer’s favor will likely take place.

Pick: Federer in 2

[polldaddy poll=9383519]

Jiri Vesely vs. (13) Gael Monfils

Vesely will be back in action one day after scoring by far the biggest win of his career. The 22-year-old Czech is coming off a shocking upset of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, when the underdog prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 for his first-ever top-10 victory. He had previously been 0-8 lifetime in such situations. The result came especially out of nowhere given Vesely’s current form, as the world No. 55 had been 4-8 on the season prior to his arrival in Monte-Carlo. He gave himself a shot at Djokovic by outlasting Teymuraz Gabashvili 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the opening round.

Up next for Vesely is a second career meeting with Monfils, who lost their only previous encounter 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-7(3), 6-4 at Wimbledon in 2014. Clay should give the Frenchman a much better chance in this matchup, because he will be happy to play long rally after long rally against his opponent–especially given that Vesely is making a quick turnaround following two tough three-setters. Monfils, who is a stellar 17-5 for his 2016 campaign, has cruised so far in Monte-Carlo at the expense of Gilles Muller and Paolo Lorenzi. The world No. 16 has been surprisingly focused and motivated this entire year and he should be able to take advantage of an adversary who will likely find it difficult to build on such a monumental victory.

Pick: Monfils in 2

[polldaddy poll=9384637]