The ATP Tour is heading to Canada for the ATP Montreal Masters 1000. The event is filled with the best players in the world as they prepare for the final Slam of the year. Day one features a number of exciting matches and, as always, we here at LWOT are offering our previews and predictions for every match on the slate, including Andy Murray vs Taylor Fritz and Denis Shapovalov vs Alex de Minaur. But who will advance?
ATP Montreal Day 1 Predictions
Alex Molcan vs Mackenzie McDonald
Head-to-head: first meeting
World #39 Alex Molcan and World #48 Mackenzie McDonald both hold career-high rankings and were direct entrants into this loaded 56-player field. With that said, McDonald has not won back-to-back matches since Roland Garros. Molcan, on the other hand, reached the semis last month in Hamburg. I do believe McDonald is the better hard-court player, but his recent poor form is tough to ignore. I think the consistency of the Slovakian helps him get to the finish line.
Prediction: Molcan in 3
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Hugo Gaston vs Jack Draper
Head-to-head: first meeting
After both advancing through two qualifying gs, 21-year-old Hugo Gaston and 20-year-old Jack Draper will square off for the first time. Neither next-gen player has been much of a factor on the tour this season, making this this first-round match that much more meaningful. The Frenchman favors the clay and is just 8-19 in his tour-level career on hard courts. Although Draper does not have much tour-level success, his seven Challenger/ITF titles have come on hard courts, including four this season. Draper has a chance to be the next great male British player, and I believe he picks up his first Masters win in Montreal.
Prediction: Draper in 3
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Marcos Giron vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-to-head: first meeting
Qualifier Marcos Giron and 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut will square off for the first time in Montreal with high stakes on the line. The 34-year-old Spaniard is having a renaissance season. Holding a 27-11 record with titles in Doha and Kitzbuhel, the consistency of Bautista Agut has caused extreme problems for his opponents. Giron, on the other hand, has been in a major slump. Before his two qualifying victories in Montreal, the 29-year-old American had won just three of his last 12 matches. I think the consistency and form of the veteran will be too much for Giron to handle.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3
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Holger Rune vs Fabio Fognini
Head-to-head: first meeting
19-year-old Holger Rune makes his Montreal debut against 35-year-old qualifier Fabio Fognini. This is Fognini’s 11th appearance at the Canadian Open with his best finish being a quarterfinal appearance in 2019. The age of the Italian has shown this season, but his second-round qualifying win over the in-form Daniel Altmaier was a welcomed sight. Rune, the current world #26, is just 6-6 on hard courts this season. He is just 1-8 overall since his quarterfinal run at Roland Garros. With that said, most young players are streaky, and eventually, he will find his previous form. I see him notching a win over Fognini in what will very likely be an animated match.
Prediction: Rune in 3
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