Day 3 at the Paris Masters 2020 promises to be a highly entertaining day with many contenders taking center stage. The Russians in Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev are in action. Also, Rafael Nadal returns to the action for the first time since the French Open 2020. There are 11 Round of 32 matches scheduled for Day 3 and as always we preview and predict all of them, including Rafael Nadal vs Feliciano Lopez and Daniil Medvedev vs Kevin Anderson.
ATP Paris Masters Day 3 Predictions
Milos Raonic vs Pierre Hugues Herbert
Head to head – Raonic 1-0 Herbert
It was business like from Milos Raonic in his opening encounter against Aljaz Bedene. The Canadian served 18 aces and won an impressive 80 percent points on his second serve. He was equally ruthless on Bedene’s serve winning 75 percent points on the Slovenian’s second serve.
Pierre Hugues Herbert survived a tough match against Tennys Sandgren winning in the third set tie break. The match could’ve gone either way but the Frenchman played the tiebreak on his terms. Herbert’s first serve percentage at 49 was well below to his liking and he’ll have to pick that up if he’s to progress further. Raonic won in straight sets in their sole previous meeting and the mood the Canadian was in, it doesn’t look likely Herbert will manage to stop him. Expect another serving masterclass from Raonic and get the better of the Frenchman in the baseline rallies on the back of his huge forehand.
Prediction: Raonic in 2
Stan Wawrinka vs Tommy Paul
Head to head – First Meeting
It was a superb comeback from Tommy Paul winning six straight games to win the third set 6-3 against Gilles Simon. The American played attacking tennis and closed it out with superb volleys too. His Paris Masters 2020 campaign only gets tougher from now as he takes on the three time Grand Slam champion, Stan Wawrinka.
The Swiss beat an in-form Daniel Evans in straight sets in his opening encounter and will be looking to build on that solid performance. With a potential third round looming against Andrey Rublev, Wawrinka will hope his game can reach the highest level we’ve all seen before. Paul did play a great match but against Wawrinka, he’ll be outclassed from the baseline. Expect the Swiss to dominate from the baseline especially off his backhand wing and progress to the Round of 16.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
Alexander Zverev vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head to head – Kecmanovic 1-0 Zverev
Miomir Kecmanovic took out the Astana Open champion in John Millman in a very confident fashion. His reward is a match up against a player who can out hit almost anyone on his day. Alexander Zverev’s form on court is red hot after winning back to back tournaments in Cologne.
The German plays his best on the indoor courts and while off the court it’s been tough times for Zverev, the German would do well to turn up as a professional and play the level he wants to. Expect Zverev to dominate the baseline rallies and if he can manage his second serve, the German should make the head to head 1-1.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Andrey Rublev vs Radu Albot
Head to head – First Meeting
What a magnificent year it has been for Andrey Rublev. The Russian has won five titles in 2020, four of them on the hard courts and one on clay. He enters this tournament surely as one of the contenders for the title. Rublev has won the last two tournaments he’s played in at St. Petersburg and Vienna. The scary thing for the rest of the tour is that he doesn’t look like he’s getting tired of playing a lot of matches which is a luxury he enjoys given he’s only 23 years old.
The toll of winning back to back tournaments remains to be seen on Rublev’s game and fitness but any let down is unlikely to be capitalized upon by Radu Albot. The Moldovan has done well to come through qualifying and to beat Hubert Hurkacz in the opening round but there’s a difference in quality at the moment between the Russian and pretty much everyone else. Expect Rublev to continue impressing on the tennis court.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
