It’s Day 4 of the Paris Masters 2020 with 16 men remaining in the draw. There are a lot of exciting clashes on the slate and we at LWOT preview and predict all eight Round of 16 clashes for you including Alexander Zverev vs Adrian Mannarino.
ATP Paris Masters Day 4 Predictions
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Norbert Gombos
Head-to-head: Gombos 1-0 Carreno Busta
It was a solid performance from both in their respective Round of 32 matches. Norbert Gombos held his nerve in the second set tiebreak to close it out against David Goffin and now takes on Pablo Carreno Busta, a player who the Slovak beat in Montpellier earlier this year. This match is crucial for both as neither have hit top form post the French Open 2020.
Carreno Busta played at a very high level throughout his match against Jan-Lennard Struff. The Spaniard posted great number on his serves and held onto his serve each and every time. Gombos will be a tricky opponent to navigate for Carreno Busta as he’s already lost to him this year in similar conditions but the Spaniard has looked in good touch this tournament. Expect the Spaniard to fight it out to nab the victory in a tightly contested match.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 3
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Marin Cilic vs Ugo Humbert
Head to head: first meeting
Marin Cilic hasn’t quite found his best tennis since the season restarted in August. The Croatian’s performances have been inconsistent to say the least. There were glimpses of his highest level of play in the first set against Felix Auger-Aliassime before finally winning in three sets. Corentin Moutet unfortunately couldn’t take to the court which gave Cilic an additional day of rest.
Ugo Humbert, on the other hand, is playing at his highest level. With a title run in Antwerp two weeks back, he’s already taken out high quality opponents in Casper Ruud and the second seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Frenchman played the clutch points beautifully against the Greek and was rewarded with a hard fought victory in three tiebreaker sets. Cilic on his day can blast away any opponent but at the moment the Croat is not consistent enough to beat an in form Humbert. Expect Humbert to be well rested after getting a day off and produce another high quality match.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
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Diego Schwartzman vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: Schwartzman 2-0 Davidovich Fokina
In a repeat of the quarterfinal clash at the Cologne Championships two weeks ago, Diego Schwartzman will take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. If that clash is anything to go by, we’re in for an enthralling encounter. Both these players are coming off routine wins in their Round of 32 clash and it’s a match too close to call.
Davidovich Fokina continued his impressive Paris Masters campaign by beating Benjamin Bonzi in straight-sets, but if he’s to beat Diego Schwartzman he’ll have to continue in the same vein of form he’s shown. The Argentine managed to beat Richard Gasquet for the first time in his career and was clinical behind his first and second serve. Expect a lot of long baseline exchanges and a pretty even match throughout. Davidovich Fokina will certainly make this very interesting but the Argentine is playing great tennis and he should break the Spaniard’s game with his consistency.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
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Rafael Nadal vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jordan Thompson managed to turn around a match which was seemingly under Borna Coric’s control. The Aussie kept fighting in the second set and in the third was clearly the more consistent player. His next task is to take out the top seed, Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard expectantly made a slow start which was all Feliciano Lopez needed to secure the first set. Nadal kept creating chances in the second as he started to read Lopez’s big serve and eventually clinched the tiebreak. Unfortunately for Thompson, he doesn’t quite possess the serving capability of Lopez and once you take that out all the remains is the baseline game. And there aren’t many who can beat Nadal from the baseline.
Prediction: Nadal in 2
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