The ATP Paris Masters 2020 enters into Day 3 with a packed schedule of 11 Round of 32 clashes. We preview and predict all of them, including Rafael Nadal vs Feliciano Lopez and Andrey Rublev vs Radu Albot.
ATP Paris Masters Day 3 Predictions
Diego Schwartzman vs Richard Gasquet
Head to head – Gasquet 3-0 Schwartzman
Richard Gasquet would be mighty pleased after earning his first win since his first round victory at the US Open 2020. The Frenchman was clinical throughout the match dropping his serve just once and looked relatively at ease in his home country. He now takes on Diego Schwartzman who’s been playing extremely well since the tournament in Rome.
The Argentine reached the finals two weeks back in Cologne and while indoor hard courts isn’t his best surface, Schwartzman is in a rich vein of form producing extremely consistent tennis from the baseline. What makes this match even more interesting is the fact that Gasquet has never lost to the Argentine in their three previous meetings. That can play a part in this high octane clash. Expect a close contest between the two and while Gasquet has beaten Schwartzman on all three previous occasions, the Argentine carries too much form into this match to bow out.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
Yoshihito Nishioka vs Adrian Mannarino
Head to head – First Meeting
Yoshihito Nishioka came through a tight three setter against Pablo Andujar winning the match 5-7 6-4 6-2. He now faces Adrian Mannarino who has been playing really well since the tournament in Nur-Sultan. The Frenchman reached the finals there and he’s made an emphatic start to his Paris Indoors campaign. Mannarino took out Dusan Lajovic in straight sets and he’ll be pleased with the numbers he posted on serve. The Frenchman likes the indoor conditions and while Nishioka is a decent player, on current form, Mannarino looks better poised to come through
Prediction: Mannarino in 2
Alex De Minaur vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head to head – First Meeting
What a titanic battle this is going to be. Lorenzo Sonego continued his fine form from Vienna taking out Alexander Bublik in straight sets. The Italian served well throughout the match and will be hoping for another similar performance.
Alex De Minaur is also playing well off late reaching the finals in Antwerp two weeks ago. The Aussie took out high quality opponents throughout that tournament and he’ll hope to be at his best to take out Sonego because that’s the only way he’ll win. From the baseline, it’s essentially Sonego’s attacking prowess against De Minaur’s atrocious defensive skills. While that battle can go either way, the serving battle favours the Italian. Expect the Aussie to grit it out to take a set but in the latter stages of the match, Sonego’s serve should bail him out and if he keeps attacking, the Italian should be the one winning this.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
Daniil Medvedev vs Kevin Anderson
Head to head – Anderson 1-0 Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev doesn’t seem to be quite playing his best tennis since his semi-final run at the US Open 2020. The Russian has spoken about how he wants to put the past behind him but it’ll be easier said than done against a player he lost to in the recently concluded tournament in Vienna.
Kevin Anderson reached his first semifinal of the year in Vienna before pulling out with injury. The South African enjoyed a short match in his opening encounter as Laslo Djere retired with the scoreline reading 5-2 in favour of Anderson. The South African was moving well and he knows what it takes to beat the Russian. Expect a thrilling encounter with Anderson’s serve setting up points beautifully for the South African. Medvedev is likely to fight till the end but the confidence is lacking in the Russian’s game and that can prove decisive in the latter stages of the match.
Prediction: Anderson in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
