With 14 matches on the schedule on day one at the ATP Paris Masters, there should be no shortage of entertaining tennis for the fans and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Marin Cilic vs Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Karen Khachanov. But who will reach the second round?
ATP Paris Masters Day One Predictions
Filip Krajinovic vs Feliciano Lopez
Head-to-head: Krajinovic 1-0 Lopez
Filip Krajinovic may have lost his last three matches, but the Serbian’s chances shouldn’t be discounted this week. He has, for the most part, enjoyed a fine season, highlighted by his excellent run to the quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Masters and will also have fond memories of playing in Paris, having reached the final in Bercy in 2017. Feliciano Lopez has also played some good tennis indoors over the course of his career, but it is hard to see him winning this match.
The Spaniard’s appearances on the main tour are now sporadic, which is no surprise considering he is less than a year away from his 40th birthday. He can still be a difficult opponent to face thanks to his powerful serve and good touch at the net, but he is not the force he once was. If Krajinovic remains focused and finds a way to bring his forehand into play regularly, he should have more than enough to end his recent run of defeats.
Prediction: Krajinovic in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Salvatore Caruso vs Corentin Moutet
Head-to-head: Caruso 1-1 Moutet
Salvatore Caruso fell just short in the qualifying at the ATP Paris Masters, losing in the final round to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets. But he was handed a late reprieve as a lucky loser and will now look to take advantage when he faces French wildcard Corentin Moutet. Moutet made an excellent start to the year, reaching the final at the Qatar Open as a qualifier, but whilst he has shown flashes of his best tennis since, he has struggled for consistency.
He will certainly not have been pleased by his last match, which saw him beaten comfortably by Frances Tiafoe in the first round at the Nur-Sultan Open in Kazakhstan. Concerningly, that was his fourth defeat in his last five matches. Still, this looks likely to be a close match, but Caruso is in better form and will be able to play with the freedom of a lucky loser, so it would not be a surprise to see the Italian add to Moutet’s woes.
Prediction: Caruso in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Ugo Humbert vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: Humbert 1-1 Ruud
This is another match that looks to have the makings of a close contest. Both Ugo Humbert, who recently won his second title at the European Open in Antwerp, and Casper Ruud look to have bright futures in the game, with neither having yet turned 23. But it is Humbert who should have the edge here. Humbert is at his best on hard courts and beat Ruud on a hard court on his way to the title in Auckland earlier this season.
Ruud has worked hard to develop his game on hard courts, with some promising results, but he remains far more comfortable on the clay. He demonstrated as much by avenging that defeat at the Hamburg Open, but he arrives at Bercy in poor form, having lost his last two matches including last week at the Vienna Open in similar conditions to those in Paris. As a result, do not expect him to get the better of Humbert here.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Alex de Minaur vs Stefano Travaglia
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been a disappointing year for Alex de Minaur. The Australian, who excelled in 2019, has won just ten matches so far in 2020. His case has not been helped by injuries and he did show some promise at the European Open two weeks ago, where he reached the final, but he was well-beaten there by Humbert, which may well have dented his confidence somewhat. However, this does look like a winnable match for a player of his quality.
Travaglia, who impressed in coming through the qualifying with wins over Pedro Sousa and his countryman Gianluca Mager should not be underestimated, but the 28-year-old is relatively inexperienced on the main tour, having played only 43 matches at this level since turning professional in 2008. If de Minaur is at his best, or even close to it, his defensive skills and first-class return should see him past Travaglia and into the second round.
Prediction: de Minaur in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Federico Coria vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-head: Coria 1-0 Bonzi
Federico Coria still has a long way to go to match the achievements of his elder brother Guillermo, who reached the French Open final in 2004 and achieved a career-high ranking of world #3. But the 28-year-old has impressed lately, reaching the third round at the French Open before qualifying into the main draw at the Sardinia Open and in Antwerp. He did not manage to replicate that feat in Bercy, losing in the final round to Marco Cecchinato, but he was handed a second chance as a lucky loser.
Benjamin Bonzi, meanwhile, was awarded a wildcard, perhaps as a reward for his efforts in coming through the qualifying to reach the second round at Roland Garros. But he has been in indifferent form since, barring a run to the semifinals at the Istanbul Challenger, and lost to Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round at the Hamburg Challenger in his last outing. This match may still be close, with neither man at their best on hard courts, but expect Coria to edge it.
Prediction: Coria in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
