Montpellier QF previews and predictions: Bautista Agut vs. Humbert, Goffin vs. Sonego

A pair of all-seeded quarterfinal contests are on the Friday schedule in Montpellier. Roberto Bautista Agut is going up against Ugo Humbert, while David Goffin is facing Lorenzo Sonego.

(1) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (6) Ugo Humbert

Bautista Agut and Humbert will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Open Sud de France on Friday night. Humbert was always the host nation’s best hope for a title and he is the only Frenchman remaining. The world No. 32 is on his second life this week after saving three match points and outlasting Tallon Griekspoor 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6(5) on Wednesday. Humbert, who beat Norbert Gombos 6-3, 7-6(3) in his opener, reached the second round of the Australian Open before losing to Nick Kyrgios in one of the best matches of the tournament.

Bautista Agut was off to a disappointing 1-3 start to the season, but he followed up a bye with a 6-0, 6-3 beatdown of Gregoire Barrere on Thursday. Still, the 13th-ranked Spaniard will have to do a lot more than beat Barrere in order to prove that he is back in fine form. Humbert should be well-rested with a day off and an indoor hard court in France is the perfect setting for him against Bautista Agut.

Pick: Humbert in 3

(7) Lorenzo Sonego vs. (2) David Goffin

Sonego is loving life on indoor hard courts these days, having made a run to the Vienna final last fall (upset Novak Djokovic before falling to a red-hot Andrey Rublev in the title match). So far in Montpellier the 36th-ranked Italian has defeated Hugo Gaston in three sets and Sebastian Korda in straights. Sonego’s four victorious set scores are 6-3, 6-1, 6-3, and 6-2, and his only dropped set to Gaston was 9-7 in a tiebreaker.

Up next for the seventh seed on Friday is Goffin, and they will also be squaring off for the first time in their careers. Goffin is by no means in peak form, having slumped to 15th in the rankings (he would be lower if not for the points restructuring). The Belgian had lost thee matches in a row before scraping past Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday. A big step up in quality of opponent will likely see the end of Goffin’s week, as he would rather face Sonego in slower conditions.

Pick: Sonego in 3