Wimbledon R4 previews and picks: Federer vs. Bautista Agut, Troicki vs. Pospisil

Roger Federer will be seeking a quarterfinal spot at Wimbledon when he goes up against Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday. Viktor Troicki and Vasek Pospisil are also part of a jam-packed schedule.

(20) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (2) Roger Federer

Federer and Bautista Agut will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in the Wimbledon fourth round on manic Monday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Federer’s way, and each has come in the last 16–just like this one. The current world No. 2 cruised 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 at last year’s U.S. Open and 6-4, 6-2 a few months later in Shanghai.

It is hard to see Bautista Agut turning the tide at the All-England Club, where Federer has triumphed seven times and is once again in strong form. The 33-year-old set coasted through the first week with victories over Damir Dzumhur, Sam Querrey, and Sam Groth, dropping only one set to Groth in the process. Bautista Agut has advanced by taking out Ruben Bemelmans, Benoit Paire (came back from two sets down), and Nikoloz Basilashvili. Given that the 22nd-ranked Spaniard had been a mere 18-17 for the season prior to this fortnight, an appearance in the second week is both surprising and successful. This, of course, is where his run ends. Although Bautista Agut is accomplished on grass, it is the last surface on which he would choose to face Federer.

Pick: Federer in 3 losing 11-14 games

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Vasek Pospisil vs. (22) Viktor Troicki

Not unlike in Pospisil’s third-round showdown against James Ward, a massive opportunity awaits Pospisil and Troicki on Monday. The Canadian had never been to the fourth round of any Grand Slam prior to this fortnight. Troicki had advance to the last 16 of just three previous majors and he has never made it to a quarterfinal. Although both players are often tough to beat, it has to be considered a dream draw for each man this late in such a big tournament (Pospisil is No. 56 in the world, Troicki is ranked 24th).

Pospisil has already taken advantage of a section of the draw vacated by an injured David Ferrer. The Canadian boasts wins over Vincent Millot, Fabio Fognini, and Ward (8-6 in the fifth set over the Brit, who had been scheduled to face Ferrer in round one). Troicki may have benefited from Rafael Nadal’s loss to Dustin Brown, as the Serb played Brown on Saturday and cruised in four sets. He preceded that triumph with four-set scalps of Alexandr Nedovyesov and Aljaz Bedene. Troicki’s grass-court preparation included a runner-up showing in Stuttgart and a semifinal performance at Queen’s Club, so he is supremely confident right now. The 22nd seed has been here before, and now he will parlay it into his first slam quarterfinal.

Pick: Troicki in 4

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