There should be no shortage of entertaining action on day two at the Paris Masters in Bercy, with a number of big names including the defending champion Karen Khachanov, the in-form Daniil Medvedev and London hopeful Alexander Zverev, who takes on Fernando Verdasco, set to join the fray. But who will advance?
Paris Masters Day Two Predictions
Karen Khachanov vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Head-to-head: Khachanov 2-1 Struff
Although it has been a largely disappointing season for Khachanov, the Russian has found some form heading into the Paris Masters, where he is defending champion. He reached the semifinals in Beijing, losing narrowly to eventual champion Dominic Thiem, before making back-to-back quarterfinals at the Kremlin Cup and the Vienna Open. And in conditions that clearly suit his aggressive style, the Russian may feel confident about his chances of making another deep run in Bercy.
But he will need to be at his best against fellow big-hitter Jan-Lennard Struff. The German has enjoyed a career-best season and impressed in a closely contested opening-round win over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. He does have the quality to win this match and gave Khachanov a stern test earlier in the season in Halle. But Khachanov is the more consistent of the two, largely because he is better able to rein in his power with accuracy. That should prove the difference here.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
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Grigor Dimitrov vs Ugo Humbert
Head-to-head: first meeting
Grigor Dimitrov’s form has picked up somewhat since he reached the semifinals at the US Open, beating Roger Federer in the last eight. But his performances have still fallen short of the level he has displayed in the past, which once took him as high as 3rd in the world rankings. In the Bulgarian’s defence, he has faced some tough draws, coming up against Andrey Rublev in the first round in Beijing, Sam Querrey in his Stockholm opener and Matteo Berrettini in the second round in Vienna.
Ugo Humbert, meanwhile, has put together a fine season, highlighted by a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon. He arrives at the Paris Masters in fine form having reached the semifinals in Antwerp, before winning a Challenger in Brest, dropping just one set in the process. He is not amongst the most consistent of players, but he strikes the ball very cleanly at his best and his forehand is a real weapon. One that could cause Dimitrov real problems in the slow conditions in Bercy.
Predictions: Humbert in 3
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Laslo Djere vs Alex De Minaur
Head-to-head: first meeting
Alex De Minaur was on the receiving end of a lesson in the final in Basel, with Federer beating him handily, 6-2 6-2. But that should not detract from how well the young Australian played to reach the title-match at the Swiss Indoors. Indeed, it has been a generally excellent season for De Minaur, who has improved on the gains he made in 2018, winning three tour-level titles and cracking the world’s top 20 for the first-time in his career.
He does still lack real weaponry, which has prevented him from troubling the very best in the sport, although he did score a good win over Kei Nishikori at the US Open. And up against Laslo Djere of Serbia, who is far more at home on outdoor clay than an indoor hard-court, he may well feel confident despite his relative lack of power. Djere can certainly play and possesses a fine backhand, but De Minaur should be able to outmanoeuvre him in this one.
Prediction: De Minaur in 2
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Daniil Medvedev vs Jeremy Chardy
Head-to-head: Medvedev 1-1 Chardy
Medvedev has shown no signs of slowing down since starting his remarkable run at the Washington Open. Since then, he has reached at least the final at every tournament he has played, including at the US Open where he came close to beating the great Rafael Nadal, and he has picked up two Masters titles in Cincinnati and Shanghai. And in the slow conditions at the Paris Masters, he will surely feel he has a good chance to win a third.
Jeremy Chardy, meanwhile, scored a good win over Sam Querrey in the first round, beating the American 5-7 6-3 7-5, after coming through the qualifying. He also has a win over Medvedev to his name, having beaten the Russian in straight-sets last year at Queen’s Club. But Medvedev, who avenged that defeat with a 7-6 6-2 win in Rotterdam earlier this year, has improved considerably since and it is hard to see Chardy being the man to stop the world #4’s remarkable run.
Prediction: Medvedev in 2
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