Day 2 here at the Montreal Rogers Cup will feature both some familiar names to tennis fans such as former top 10 players, John Isner and Gilles Simon, and some names that will be future of tennis such as current world no. 3, Alexander Zverev, and 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime. A battle of the Canadians will also take place as the teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime will take on his good friend, Vasek Pospisil for a place in the second round. (We also have more Day 2 Montreal Rogers Cup previews and predictions.)
ATP Montreal Rogers Cup Day 2 Predictions
John Isner vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-head: Isner leads 2-0
Both players have come into this match-up with some decent form the past few months. For Thompson, he reached his first ATP Tour final in June at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and backed up that result up with a semifinal showing at Antalya the following tournament.
Isner, on the other hand, won his fourth Newport title after Wimbledon, but has struggled to achieve success in his last two current tournaments, Atlanta and Washington.
This could be a close one based on current form. The Australian could steal a set from the American to force a deciding set here at the Montreal Rogers Cup, but it should be the former No.8 that gets through in the end.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Gilles Simon vs Radu Albot
Head-to-head: Simon leads 2-0
The Moldovan, Radu Albot, has had a career-best season and reached a new career-high ranking of No. 39 this week. However, Simon will be a tough opponent as he himself has played a good level of consistent tennis in the past few months. The 34-year-old Frenchman reached the final at Queen’s and followed it with a quarterfinal showing at Eastbourne.
It should be a close match considering both players are in good form. But with the head-to-head advantage leaning to Simon’s favor, it should give Simon some confidence ahead of the match that he can beat Albot.
Prediction: Simon in 2
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Head-to-head: 1-1 tied (Challenger circuit)
Basilashvili seems to have found his game recently by defending his title at Hamburg and defeating Dusan Lajovic in the first round here at Montreal.
Struff, on the other hand, has been playing well all year and reached the deep stages at some big tournaments such as Wimbledon and Indian Wells already.
Both players are playing well at the moment so it should be a tough match for players to play. But Struff has simply been more consistent this year in terms of results and should be the slight favourite to come through.
Prediction: Struff in 3
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Vasek Pospisil
Head-to-head: Auger-Aliassime leads 2-0
The pair know each other really well as they are good friends off-the-court and played doubles together here. But it will be all business Tuesday as they face off for a place in the second round of the Montreal Rogers Cup Masters.
Their last meeting was at Wimbledon a few weeks ago, which Auger-Aliassime won in four sets. The 18-year-old Canadian should again get through his compatriot and advance to the next round. Mainly because Pospisil has played the majority of his singles matches this season in qualifying tournaments and ATP Challenger events due to a poor singles ranking.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2
Alexander Zverev vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Zverev leads 1-0
Norrie has picked up some good form the past fortnight by reaching the quarterfinals at Los Cabos last week and beating Marton Fucsovics Monday.
Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, returns to the court after his disappointment in Hamburg and will be looking to use Montreal to bounce back.
Even though the World No.3 has had a mediocre season so far and has not lived up to the expectations after winning the ATP Finals last year, he should get past Norrie and advance to the next round comfortably.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
