World No.3 Roger Federer squares off with talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Masters.

Federer started of the year in at Doha where he pulled out of his semifinal clash against Jo-wilfried Tsonga due to injury. It was only the second time in his entire career that the Swiss had pulled out in the middle of an event. In the Australian Open, Federer was in scintillating form, but was undone in the semi-finals by a rampaging Nadal. Roger has continued to play well since and won his first ATP 1000 Masters tournament in almost a year at Indian Wells, he also claimed another ATP title at Rotterdam before that. Fed ex does have a point to prove this tournament as experts have already written him off, and are building the on-going event as a battle between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. The sixteen time Grand Slam winner said he was apprehensive of the blue clay being used at the Madrid Masters this year. A new surface however, brings in an element of surprise and hence presents a brilliant opportunity for him to answer his critics by doing what he does best. Federer has a 23-3 win-loss record this year which depicts his good form from the start of the season. Roger overcame Milos Raonic in the first round here, after warding off a stiff fight from the Canadian in three tight sets winning 4-6,7-5,7-6.

Richard Gasquet - once hailed as one of the emerging talents of the game, has quickly faded and is now World No.14. The Frenchman has had a troubled year so far and failed to go beyond the quarterfinal stage of any event up until the recently concluded Estroil Open where he lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the final. Gasquet, seems to be hitting form now, but faces a huge ask against a very determined Federer. His win-loss record this year stands at 14-9, and he would be looking to build on that.

In their eleven meetings against one another, the Swiss Maestro leads by 9 matches to 2. But what makes this tie interesting is that, on clay Gasquet leads Federer by 2 matches to 1.

TennisEarth predicts a competitive match, eventually won by the Swiss.