Quarterfinalists in Mallorca have already done well to pick up some momentum before Wimbledon, but they will be looking for more on Thursday. Gael Monfils is facing Roberto Bautista Agut, while Alejandro Tabilo matches up with Jakub Mensik.
(6) Gael Monfils vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
Monfils an Bautista Agut will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the first time in five years when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Mallorca Championships on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at 4-1 in favor of Monfils, but they have never met on grass and their last encounter of any kind came back in 2019. Although both veterans are all-court players, grass definitely gives Bautista Agut an advantage. He is a stellar 54-27 lifetime on the surface, which includes a run to the Wimbledon semifinals in 2019. So far this week the 36-year-old Spaniard has defeated Taro Daniel (6-1, 6-0) and No. 2 seed Ugo Humbert.
Solid but unspectacular on the lawn (31-22 all-time record), Monfils punched his ticket to the quarterfinals with victories over Dominic Thiem and Roberto Carballes Baena. The 37-year-old Frenchman is a modest 15-13 this season and at 38th in the rankings will be unseeded for Wimbledon. Bautista Agut is more reliable from a physical standpoint at this point and he is superior on grass, so the former world No. 9 should be able to treat the home crowd to a big win.
Pick: Bautista Agut in 3
Jakub Mensik vs. (4) Alejandro Tabilo
It’s a much different story in the other quarterfinal contest in the bottom half of the Mallorca draw, where Tabilo and Mensik–Mensik especially–are in the early stages of their careers. A relatively late bloomer, Tabilo at 27 years old is really starting to emerge in 2024. The Chilean left-hander has earned 21 of his 46 main-tour match wins this season, which includes a maiden ATP title in Auckland and a semifinal showing at the Rome Masters. Tabilo opened in Mallorca by beating Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday.
These two men have combined to play 20 total matches on grass (Tabilo is 7-9, Mensik is 2-2). The 18-year-old Czech had never played on the green stuff prior to this summer, but early returns are encouraging. He knocked off defending champion Chris Eubanks 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in round one before scraping past Fabio Fognini 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Mensik wields the bigger game that is better suited for grass, so if he serves well he will likely be on his way past the No. 4 seed and into the semis.
Pick: Mensik in 3