Top two seeds Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime will continue their Montpellier campaigns on Friday. They are set for respective quarterfinal contests against qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili and No. 8 seed Bu Yunchaokete.

(1) Andrey Rublev vs. (Q) Nikoloz Basilashvili

Rublev and Basilashvili will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers and for the first time since 2022 when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Open Occitanie on Friday. The head-to-head series is all tied up at 3-3, with Rublev leading 2-1 on hard courts–1-0 indoors (a 6-2, 6-3 victory at the 2020 Rotterdam tournament).

Rublev could really use a successful week, and he is off to a good start in that effort after defeating Chris Eubanks 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday. That ended a five-match losing streak for the 27-year-old Russian dating back to the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals. Basilashvili is finally resurfacing on the heels of his own terrible slump. The 178th-ranked Georgian has already won four matches in Montpellier, two in qualifying and then two more in the main draw at the expense of Mikhail Kukushkin and Arthur Rinderknech. In a battle between two of the biggest forehands on tour, Rublev’s is the one with much more consistency.

Pick: Rublev in 2

(8) Bu Yunchaokete vs. (2) Felix Auger-Aliassime

Rublev and Basilashvili should take notes from Auger-Aliassime, who knows a thing or two about getting his game back on track following cold spells. The 23rd-ranked Canadian is doing it right now, having already picked up an ATP title this year in Adelaide. It would be no surprise if Auger-Aliassime adds another to his haul in Montpellier, because he is a force on indoor hard courts. The No. 2 seed got a first-round bye and then knocked off Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 7-6(5) on Tuesday.

Up next for Auger-Aliassime is a first-ever meeting with Bu, whose breakthrough on tour came during the 2024 Asian swing with back-to-back semifinal showings in Hangzhou and Beijing. The world No. 71 was 0-3 this season heading into Montpellier, but he is back in business with victories over Daniel Altmaier and Constant Lestienne. Unfortunately for Bu, facing Auger-Aliassime indoors represents a huge step up in competition level.

Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 2