Day two at the Paris Masters saw some excellent tennis and some stunning upsets, with both the in-form Daniil Medvedev and defending champion Karen Khachanov crashing out. The star names set to join the action on day three will be hoping to avoid their fate and we here at LWOT are offering predictions for all 12 matches, including Novak Djokovic’s clash with Corentin Moutet and Stefanos Tsitsipas’ battle with Taylor Fritz, on what is set to be an action-packed day in Bercy. But who will book their place in the third round at the Paris Masters?
Paris Masters Day Three Predictions
Dominic Thiem vs Milos Raonic
Head-to-head: Raonic 2-1 Thiem
It has been an undeniably excellent season for Dominic Thiem. Although his North American summer was badly disrupted by illness, the Austrian has turned himself into a real force on hard courts this year, winning titles in Indian Wells, Beijing and in front of his home crowd at the Vienna Open. And with the court surface at the Paris Masters playing slow and bouncing high, he will surely like his chances of making a real impact at the final tournament of the regular season.
However, the conditions in Paris are also ideal for servers as Milos Raonic demonstrated by hammering Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-2, serving 14 aces on his way to victory. He has also beaten Thiem twice on a hard court, including in their only previous indoor meeting, which came three years ago at the ATP Finals. But Thiem won their most recent meeting earlier this year in Indian Wells. He has the power to keep Raonic on the back foot and moves well enough to resist the Canadian’s attack.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
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Roberto Bautista Agut vs Alex De Minaur
Head-to-head: De Minaur 1-0 Bautista Agut
Roberto Bautista Agut has enjoyed a career-best year, particularly at the Slams. But the Spaniard has faltered somewhat in recent weeks. Since making the last four at Wimbledon, Bautista Agut has made just one further semifinal, at the Zhuhai Championships, where he lost to Alex De Minaur, winning just four games. That defeat was surely bitterly disappointing for Bautista Agut, who, for all his fine play, has won just one title this year, but it should be noted that De Minaur has finished the year in excellent fashion.
He arrived at the Paris Masters fresh from reaching the biggest final of his career at the Swiss Indoors, although he was dismissed there by Roger Federer. However, he shook off the disappointment of that defeat swiftly to thrash Laslo Djere in the first round, winning 6-1 6-4. Long rallies seem certain to be the order of the day in this one and there looks to be little between the two. But De Minaur is the better returner and if he can get on top of the Bautista Agut serve, he should just be able to edge this one.
Prediction: De Minaur in 3
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Kyle Edmund vs Diego Schwartzman
Head-to-head: Edmund 2-2 Schwartzman
Kyle Edmund claimed a desperately needed win in the first round, getting the better of Ricardas Berankis to score his first victory since the Rogers Cup in early August. Diego Schwartzman had also slightly lost his way since making his second quarterfinal at the US Open, winning just one match during the Asian swing and losing first round in Antwerp. But the Argentine rebounded in impressive fashion at the Vienna Open where he reached the final.
That came too late to salvage his slim London hopes, but it has at least ensured that he has the chance to end the season with some momentum. That said, he will likely have to be at his best to beat Edmund, despite the 60 places between them in the world rankings. Indeed, the conditions suit Edmund better. However, whilst beating Berankis will have given the Briton a welcome injection of confidence, he will find Schwartzman, one of the cleanest hitters and best returners on tour, a rather sterner test.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
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Rafael Nadal vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: Nadal 1-0 Mannarino
Adrian Mannarino impressed in his Paris Masters opener, beating Casper Ruud 6-4 6-2, although the Norwegian was well-below par. But as impressive as that victory was, it is a big ask to expect him to repeat it against soon-to-be world #1 Rafael Nadal, who won their only previous meeting 6-1 7-6 in Beijing. Mannarino may be able to draw some confidence from the fact that the Spaniard, despite his almost unchallenged dominance across the city at Roland Garros, has never won in Bercy and hasn’t played since the Laver Cup in September due to a wrist problem. But the slow, bouncy conditions favour Nadal massively, who should be able to dominate proceedings with his fearsome topspin forehand.
Prediction: Nadal in 2
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