Although the big guns will not enter the fray at the Paris Masters, the final tournament of the regular ATP season, until later in the week, there should be no shortage of entertaining action on day one in Bercy. And, as ever, we here at LWOT are offering predictions for as many of the matches as possible, including former-US Open champion Marin Cilic’s clash with young gun Hubert Hurkacz. But who will book their place in the second round?
Paris Masters Day One Predictions
Borna Coric vs Fernando Verdasco
Head-to-head: Coric 1-0 Verdasco
After an excellent year in 2018, highlighted by a run to the Shanghai Masters final, Borna Coric has seen his progress disrupted by a series of injury problems in 2019. He has still picked up 27 tour-level wins this season, but the Croatian may well feel that number should be higher, particularly as he has lost his last four matches, stretching back to the Zhuhai Championships in September, when he reached the semifinals.
But he looks to have a good chance of getting back to winning ways against Fernando Verdasco. The Spaniard deserves great credit for his longevity, despite being just over two weeks away from his 36th birthday he remains inside the world’s top 50, but this is not a matchup that suits him. In fact, Coric won their only previous meeting, which came at the Paris Masters in 2015, and he has improved considerably since. His excellent court-coverage should allow him to blunt Verdasco’s attack and help him pick up a much-needed win.
Prediction: Coric in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: first meeting
At his best, Jan-Lennard Struff can be almost unplayable. But the German has never been able to find his best tennis with enough consistency, which goes some way to explaining why he has never played in a tour-level final. However, in spite of that inconsistency, it has been a career-best season for Struff, who arrives in Bercy with 30 wins to his name having made the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time across the French capital at Roland Garros in June.
Yoshihito Nishioka, meanwhile, has also enjoyed a fine season, with his best week coming in Mason, Ohio when he made the quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Masters and beat his compatriot and idol Kei Nishikori. But he may be in for a tough day against the power of Struff. The indoor conditions should allow Struff to deploy his serve, the most effective weapon he possesses, to full effect and the slow court will give him time to wind up off the ground.
Prediction: Struff in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Benoit Paire vs Damir Dzumhur
Head-to-head: first meeting
Benoit Paire is another player hardly known for his consistency, but the Frenchman has, for the most part, enjoyed a fine 2019, reaching the fourth round at both the French Open and Wimbledon and winning two tour-level titles. Damir Dzumhur, in contrast, has struggled winning just 13 matches and only earning his place in the main draw at the Paris Masters as a lucky loser after falling to Ricardas Berankis in the final round of qualifying. But he may have some belief in his chances against Paire, who has been in very poor form since reaching the semifinals at the Moselle Open over a month ago. But Paire will surely be eager to finish his season on a high in front of the French crowd. And when he is focused, he can be a hard man to stop.
Prediction: Paire in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Andrey Rublev vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Head-to-head: Rublev 1-1 Tsonga
On paper this is surely the match of day one at the Paris Masters. Although on form Andrey Rublev is the clear favourite with the Russian enjoying a strong end to the season, highlighted by his triumph in Moscow, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga still thrives on the big stage. Although the Frenchman has never managed to recapture the magic that took him to the final at Melbourne Park 11 years ago, on his day he can still summon devastating power and combine that with delicate touch in the forecourt.
But will he be able to withstand the consistent hard-hitting of Rublev. The Russian is unrelenting in his application, looking to bully opponents from the back of the court, particularly off the forehand side. Whilst that can occasionally lead to him making costly numbers of unforced errors, those days are becoming increasingly rare. Tsonga likely won’t let Rublev have it all his own way, the Frenchman’s own forehand remains a fearsome weapon, but there look to be too many weaknesses in his game, most significantly his backhand, for him to win this match.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
