On an entertaining day three at the Paris Masters in Bercy there was much to enjoy for the French fans, with the race to claim the final two spots at the ATP Finals and the battle for the year-end #1 ranking claiming the headlines. On day four, the third round will see those contests once again take centre stage and we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for all eight matches, including world #1 Novak Djokovic’s clash with Kyle Edmund. But who will book their place in the quarterfinals?
Paris Masters Day Four Predictions
Jeremy Chardy vs Cristian Garin
Head-to-head: Chardy 4-1 Garin
Jeremy Chardy scored one of the finest wins of his long career by upsetting the in-form Daniil Medvedev, ranked 4th in the world, snapping the Russian’s run of six straight finals in the process. That win was Chardy’s fourth in Bercy this week after coming through the qualifying and battling past the big-serving Sam Querrey in a hard-fought three-setter in the first round. But he will be afforded scant chance to rest on his laurels up against Cristian Garin, who has enjoyed a breakout season in 2019.
The Chilean is at his best on the clay, but he has also played some fine tennis on hard courts this year. After dismissing Pablo Cuevas in the first round, Garin showed admirable composure to edge out John Isner in the round of 32, beating the former-finalist 7-6 7-6. However, Chardy will present a rather different challenge. The Frenchman’s forehand has been firing so far at the Paris Masters and he showed some delicate touch in the forecourt. A repeat of that performance should be enough to send him into the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Chardy in 3
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Alexander Zverev vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: Zverev 3-0 Shapovalov
Both Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov have recovered from broadly disappointing seasons in the closing weeks of 2019. Zverev has all but secured his place at the ATP Finals, where he is defending champion, whilst Shapovalov recently won his first title in Stockholm. And both have impressed so far at the Paris Masters, with Zverev dismissing Fernando Verdasco and Shapovalov edging out Fabio Fognini after his first-round opponent Gilles Simon retired after just four games. But Zverev does own a significant advantage in their head-to-head, having beaten Shapovalov in all three of their previous meetings. Shapovalov has the quality and the confidence to make a match of this, but expect Zverev to further extend that advantage.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rolled back the years to put a real dent in Matteo Berrettini’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in London. But he could be in for a stern test up against another big-hitter in Jan-Lennard Struff. The German has enjoyed a career-best season and upset defending champion Karen Khachanov in the second round. Struff evidently enjoys the conditions in Bercy and has the power to cause Tsonga real problems. But he has consistently found it difficult to string good performances together and, indeed, has never reached a tour-level final. Tsonga, meanwhile, is almost unstoppable at his best. The Frenchman is clearly relishing the opportunity to play in front of his home crowd. Expect their support to help to fire him into the last eight.
Prediction: Tsonga in 3
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Rafael Nadal vs Stan Wawrinka
Head-to-head: Nadal 18-3 Wawrinka
Rafael Nadal was not at his best in his Paris Masters opener up against the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. That was perhaps understandable after over a month out of action. But the Spaniard eventually found his rhythm, deservedly claiming his place in the third round as a result. But he will be in for a potentially tough test up against three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka, who arrived in Paris in fine form and made an excellent start to his campaign by beating Marin Cilic in straight-sets.
However, he has struggled against Nadal throughout his career, winning just three of their 21 previous matches. In their most recent meeting, he managed just three games. That was on clay in Madrid, however, so expect this one to be closer. But it is nonetheless hard to see any outcome other than a Nadal victory, which would take the great Spaniard one step closer to wresting the year-end #1 ranking away from his long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
Prediction: Nadal in 3
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