Andrey Rublev vs Roberto Bautista Agut: Monte Carlo Masters 2021 Prediction | Preview | H2H

The sixth seed Andrey Rublev faces the ninth seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the pre-quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Open. 

Rublev vs Agut: Preview

Rublev overpowered the Italian qualifier, Salvatore Caruso, defeating him 6-3 6-2 in the second round. The Russian smashed 4 aces, pounded 11 forehand winners, bagged 75% of his first-serve points, and also saved 3 out of 5 breakpoints.

"I am happy with my game for the first match of the clay season, I was a little bit tight because obviously I did not practice a lot on clay and I did not play any matches before, I am really happy that I could win in straight sets," said a beaming Rublev after an easy opening victory vs Caruso.

On the other hand, Agut was too good for American Tommy Paul beating him 6-3 6-4 in the round of 32 in 90 minutes. The Spaniard won 68% of his second-serve points and saved 4 out of 6 breakpoints.

The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM Central European Time.

Rublev vs Agut: Head to Head Record

Agut leads the head-to-head record 3-2 against Rublev. Their only clash on clay was in the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Open last year which the Russian won in straight sets (6-2 7-5).

Rublev vs Agut: Key Insights

• Agut has never beaten Rublev on the red dirt.
• Rublev was defeated by Fabio Fognini in three sets in the first round of the 2019 Monte Carlo Open.
• Agut lost to Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the second round of the Monte Carlo Open in 2019.
  • Rublev is playing in the third round of the Monte Carlo Open for the first time in his career.
  • Rublev has a 21-4 win-loss record this year. No player has won more matches than him.
  • If Agut wins against Rublev, he would reach his fifth quarterfinal of the season (ATP Cup, Montpellier Open, Doha Open, and Miami Open).
  • Rublev will enter his seventh quarterfinal in 2021 (ATP Cup, Australian Open, Rotterdam Open, Doha Open, Dubai Open, and Miami Open) with a victory against Agut.
  • Both Agut and Rublev are right-handed players with two-handed backhands.
  • Rublev and Agut are yet to drop a set in this tournament.

Rublev vs Agut: Game Analysis

Rublev is aiming to translate his fantastic form on hard courts into exploits on clay. The Russian has a strong forehand and can force his opponents to play defensive tennis by attacking ruthlessly from the baseline. His hard-hitting abilities help him to strike clean winners.

Agut is one of the best counter-punchers of the sport and can seamlessly switch between defense and offense according to the match situation. The Spaniard has a versatile forehand that can be hit both cross-court and down-the-line. 

In this blockbuster battle between two talented stars and exquisite shot-makers, the winner could be decided by the level of aggressiveness shown from the baseline. Rublev's consistent form in 2021 gives him a slight edge against the Spaniard who often struggles to close out matches. 

Prediction - Andrey Rublev to win in three sets

Featured Image Credits - European Pressphoto Agency (EPA)