The Paris Masters serves as the last ATP Masters event of the year, giving it special importance. A high-level playing field is also something it can always boast of. With World #1 Novak Djokovic joining the action with the NextGen stars, this tournament is certainly going to be entertaining. As always, we predict every ATP Paris Day 1 match for you. We have four matches in this article, plus two other articles. One features Aslan Karatsev vs Sebastian Korda and the other features Andy Murray vs Jenson Brooksby.
ATP Paris Day 1 Predictions
Marton Fucsovics vs Fabio Fognini
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 1-4 Fognini
Fabio Fognini isn’t in the pleasantest of form, coming out on the wrong side after some close matches. He leads the head-to-head against Fucsovics, which should instill some confidence in him. Marton Fucsovics has been having a poor run of form ever since his quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon. Also, he can complain of having poor luck in his recent matches, many of which concluded in the deciding set. Now at Paris, with the courts getting a little bit faster, he might see his past form coming back. Fucsovics should manage to get the win after a close match.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Adrian Mannarino vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-head: Mannarino 0-1 Basilashvili
Adrian Mannarino recently pulled off an upset against Andrey Rublev in long three-setter at the Kremlin Cup. Though he fell out in the next round, Mannarino showed everyone that he is just not done as yet. A skilled player on the faster courts, Mannarino can face a tough challenge to Basilashvili. Nikoloz Basilashvili is enjoying his great run of freshly found form. He made the finals of the recently concluded Indian Wells Masters, beating Khachanov and Tsitsipas, besides others to get there. He also defeated Pablo Carreno Busta at the Vienna Open, before falling to Berrettini. If he can keep the errors low, Basilashvili’s attacking game will see him through.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 2
Ilya Ivashka vs Albert Ramos Vinolas
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Ever since he bagged the title at the ATP Winston Salem, Ilya Ivashka has looked a different man. He has shown good results at every tournament hence, and will be looking to keep up the good work here. Albert Ramos Vinolas, on the other hand, is looking rather off in his recent matches. On the slower courts at Indian Wells, he was starting to look good, but eventually lost to runner-up Nikoloz Basilashvili. The pair haven’t played each other before, and it is likely that Ivashka will get a lead in their head-to-head.
Prediction: Ivashka in 2
Benoit Paire vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Head-to-head: Paire 8-5 Carreno Busta
Pablo Carreno Busta made the finals at the Metz ATP, before having disappointing results at two tournaments afterwards. He will be hoping for a quick confidence-boosting win, which he should get here. Benoit Paire’s poor run of form after the Cincinnati Masters has continued, getting only two wins since then. After the pair met way back in 2011, a lot has changed. Carreno Busta is by far the better player, and Benoit Paire a shadow of his former self. They have played 13 matches, with Paire winning eight of them. However, that is the only area where Paire leads Carreno Busta.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
