There were a few rain delays on the first day of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto, but that did not stop many superb matches being played. The good news is that the lineup for the second day looks even better than the first. Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray is one of the players scheduled to play. We have two separate articles for the other Day 2 matches in Toronto–matches include Casper Ruud vs Jiri Lehecka and Cameron Norrie vs Alex de Minaur. Which players do you think will progress to the next round?
ATP Toronto Day 2 Predictions
Borna Coric vs Aleksandar Vukic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both men have had positive recent runs. Vukic had a shock run to the final in Atlanta, serving impeccably along the way. Coric reached the semifinals in Los Cabos last week, although as the fourth seed he did only have to win two matches to make it to that stage. Although Coric infamously won the Masters event in Cincinnati last year, he has largely struggled in Canada. The Croat has managed four wins and six losses, although all four wins were in the opening round. Coric’s return is one of the strongest parts of his game when he is performing competently. I think he has a game suited well to nullifying the strengths of Vukic, and that will take him to a fifth first round win in Canada.
Prediction: Coric in 3
Dan Evans vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Dan Evans’ run to the title in Washington was one of the stories of the season. The Briton had not won a match since mid-April before the event. But he produced some near unplayable tennis at times to storm to his first ATP 500 title. Often there is an understandable drop in level in the tournament after such an achievement. Evans playing just two days after the Washington final makes this even more likely. Canadian wildcard Diallo is two spots below his career high ranking at #141, and will feed off his home crowd. An upset is not impossible, but despite possible fatigue it would still feel disrespectful not to back the Washington champion to beat the #141 after what he achieved. He may need to do it in straight sets to beat the potential issue of fatigue.
Prediction: Evans in 2
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Sebastian Korda vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head: First meeting
A couple of bad tournaments in succession happens to all players, but Korda could still use a good run after shock losses in his opening matches at Wimbledon and Washington in his last two tournaments. The American does have an all-court game when he finds his best level. He is likely to get a needed win against Etcheverry. The Argentine has had a superb season, but his two ATP final appearances and Grand Slam quarterfinal all came on his favoured clay courts. He has lost 10 of his 14 matches on the ATP tour on hard courts, and played on the clay in Kitzbuhel last week, making a hard court transition even harder. Korda to win in straights.
Prediction: Korda in 2
Andy Murray vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: Murray 1-0 Sonego
This is the first time these two have played since their incredibly dramatic match in Qatar, when Murray saved multiple match points to prevail. The former US Open champion has looked better than recent results suggest. He was incredibly close to beating two Top 10 players in Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas in his last two events. This is also Murray’s most successful Masters event, having won it three times. Sonego is always a gritty competitor, and he will make it difficult at times for Murray without question. But on current form and in Canadian conditions Murray should be able to win.
Prediction: Murray in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
