After an upset-filled day two at the Paris Masters, which saw defending champion Karen Khachanov and world #4 Daniil Medvedev depart, the remainder of the seeded players will join the fray on day three hoping to avoid similarly early exits. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering predictions for all 12 matches, including Novak Djokovic’s clash with lucky loser Corentin Moutet and Rafael Nadal’s meeting with Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. But who will book their place in the third round?
Paris Masters Day Three Predictions
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Taylor Fritz
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 1-0 Fritz
Despite a mid-season loss of form, which saw him crash out in the first round at Wimbledon and the US Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas’ season will deservedly end at the ATP Finals for the first-time in his career. And after a solid semifinal showing at the Swiss Indoors, the Greek will surely be eager to further his momentum ahead of the season-ending championships in London with a good run at the Paris Masters, where he faces fellow young gun Taylor Fritz in his opener.
The American endured a rough patch of his own recently, but rediscovered his form in Basel, where he upset Alexander Zverev in the first round. He backed that up by edging out his compatriot Frances Tiafoe in a three-set thriller in the first round in Paris. In similar conditions at the Laver Cup, Tsitsipas won their only previous meeting in a see-sawing three-set encounter, 6-2 1-6 6-0. This one could well go the distance again, but Tsitsipas greater offensive variety should give him the edge.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
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David Goffin vs Grigor Dimitrov
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 10-1 Goffin
After impressing in his opener against the in-form Ugo Humbert, Grigor Dimitrov will face a familiar foe when he takes on David Goffin. And one suspects the Bulgarian will be pleased to see Goffin across the net, having beaten him in 10 of their previous 11 encounters. The lopsidedness of that head-to-head is surprising considering their broadly equivalent level of talent and career achievements. But Goffin has consistently struggled to impose himself on Dimitrov, instead allowing the man from Haskovo to spread the court with his forehand. He did just that in the latter stages of his first-round win over Humbert and also served well, winning 85% of the points behind his first serve. If he can find that level again against Goffin, he should come out on top once again.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 3
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Stan Wawrinka vs Marin Cilic
Head-to-head: Wawrinka 12-2 Cilic
It has been a difficult season for Marin Cilic, who has fallen from the lofty heights he once occupied inside the top five to outside the top 20. But he played well to beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the first round in straight-sets. However, he has enjoyed little success so far in his career against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, winning just two of their 14 meetings, with both of his wins coming in quick succession at the start of the 2010 season in Chennai and Melbourne.
The slow conditions in Bercy will also not help his cause against the big-hitting Wawrinka, who excels when given time to wind up his big groundstrokes from the back of the court, particularly his backhand which remains amongst the best in the men’s game. Cilic has power of his own, with his serve and forehand still first-rate shots. But provided Wawrinka has recovered from the back injury that forced him to withdraw from his semifinal with Roger Federer in Basel, he should be able to hit through Cilic and secure his place in the third round at the Paris Masters.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 3
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga may not be the force he once was, but the former-world #5 proved that he can still pack a punch by claiming a famous three-set win over Kremlin Cup champion Andrey Rublev in the first round at the Paris Masters. Long the darling of the French crowd, the explosive Tsonga can once again expect to have their fulsome backing when he takes on the fast-rising Matteo Berrettini, whose late season surge could still secure the Italian qualification to the ATP Finals.
There is more than a passing similarity between the way Tsonga and Berrettini look to play tennis, with both men having built their success upon a powerful serve and forehand coupled with a willingness to move forward. Berrettini still has work to do to match Tsonga’s delicate touch in the forecourt, but he may have already surpassed him in terms of raw power. Tsonga will almost certainly make a match of this, but it is ultimately hard to argue with the weaponry of Berrettini.
Prediction: Berrettini in 3
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