As the final ATP Masters continues and the season starts to draw to a close, we take a look at five of the matches on the courts. Some interesting early-round matches are in store today, including Andrey Rublev vs Yoshihito Nishioka. But who will advance at the ATP Paris Masters?
ATP Paris Masters Day 2 Predictions
Karen Khachanov vs Laslo Djere
Head to Head: Khachanov 2-0 Djere
Khachanov is the No. 16 seed and had a fairly straightforward Round 1 match to get here. Coming off the back of a quarterfinal place in Vienna last week, the Russian will be looking to advance further. Having won the title here in 2018, defeating Novak Djokovic, Khachanov will be eager to get into the final again. Laslo Djere needed three sets to get beyond the first round. Djere had a good week in Stockholm, making the semifinal. Unfortunately for the Serbian, Khachanov will move ahead in the head-to-head again.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
Gael Monfils vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head to Head: Monfils 0-1 Cerundolo,
Monfils is coming into Paris with a title in Stockholm, followed by a loss in Vienna. The Frenchman is a popular crowd-pleaser and is playing in his home country in this battle. Monfils will be looking to replicate his position here in 2009 & 2010, where he made the final. Cerundolo has never made the final of a Masters event. Despite leading the head-to-head, Cerundolo will not be the favorite for the match, at least with the crowd.
Prediction: Monfils in 2
Dusan Lajovic vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head to Head: First Meeting
Lajovic had to come through qualifying to get into the first round. The Serbian battled through both matches to get here and will want to capitalize on this. Coming into Paris, the Serbian has not done very well in the build-up, so will want to prove something here. Bonzi made the final in the Challenger event in Brest and has to come straight on for the match, without much practice time. This match will be quite interesting
Prediction: Lajovic in 3
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head to Head: Kecmanovic 1-0 Etcheverry
Kecmanovic made the semifinal in Stockholm and then lost against the top seed in the Swiss indoors. Etchverery also lost to the top seed in the Swiss indoors – in the quarterfinal. The Argentine defeated Grand Slam Champion Andy Murray on his way to the quarterfinal there. Etchverry will level up the head-to-head this time
Prediction: Etchverry in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head to Head: Rublev 2-2 Nishioka
Rublev made the semifinal in Vienna before losing to the No. 2 seed. Prior to that, the Russian made the final of the Shanghai Masters, so is no stranger this season to the big stage. Nishioka, on the other hand, has had to qualify to get here. The Japanese player battled through his first-round match to set up this meeting with Rublev. A very even head-to-head should lead to an exciting match.
Prediction: Nishioka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
