As the 2022 season winds down, we are left with the final eight competitors at the ATP Paris Masters. The loaded 56-man field has given us many quality matches, something that only ratchets up as the tournament advances. Legends of the sport and the future of tennis are all in action and, as always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for all four Friday matches in Paris. But who will advance?
ATP Paris Masters Quarterfinal Predictions
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-Head: Auger-Aliassime 2-0 Tiafoe
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe will square off in the Bercy quarterfinals in what will all but likely be a match full of incredible shot-making and highlights. Auger-Aliassime is the most in-form player on tour. He has won 15 matches in a row, dropping just four sets along the way. The 22-year-old has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals and has a solid chance to be ranked inside the top five at the end of the season.
Tiafoe has been no slouch on the hard courts of late, winning 13 of his last 17 matches on the surface. The 24-year-old American has looked strong this week, having yet to drop a set in wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Jack Draper, and Alex de Minaur. Auger-Aliassime holds the 2-0 head-to-head advantage, including a 7-5 6-4 win earlier this year in Barcelona. Egxpect to see some very high-level tennis from two players who possess some of the cleanest groundstrokes on tour. With the run Auger-Aliassime is currently on, it’s impossible to pick against him.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tommy Paul
Head-to-Head: Tsitsipas 2-0 Paul
Stefanos Tsitsipas leads the tour in wins (59) and quarterfinals (14) this season. Although he has struggled in tournament finals, it has been an unbelievably consistent season for the 24-year-old. Tsitsipas is looking for his first semifinal appearance at the Paris Masters but will have to get past Tommy Paul. The 25-year-old American is wrapping up a career year where he holds a 38-27 record while reaching nine quarterfinals.
Paul’s rise inside the top 30 and success against the worlds best has largely been predicated on his consistency. He has always possessed solid movement, but this season under Coach Brad Stine, he has become a complete player. Paul has turned his serve into a reliable strength, helping him to an incredible mark of 5-1 against top-six-ranked players in 2022. I expect an entertaining battle between these two with a good amount of shot variety and athleticism on display. Ultimately, Tsitsipas should have the edge. He is, after all, coming off of a match where he lost just nine points in 11 service games.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Novak Djokovic vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-Head: Djokovic 2-0 Musetti
Although a lot of talk around Novak Djokovic’s 2022 season has been about why he wasn’t on the court, he still has been one of the world’s best when he does take the court. Djokovic has held a 28-2 record since the middle of May. He has won back-to-back indoor titles in Tel Aviv and Astana and is looking for his record seventh Paris Masters title. 20-year-old Lorenzo Musetti stands in his way in this quarterfinal bout. The young Italian won the Naples title a few weeks back and currently holds a career-high ranking of World No. 23. Musetti topped Casper Ruud last round 4-6 6-4 6-4 for the biggest win of his career. That said, Djokovic should be able to counter Musetti on the ground. Expect the six-time Bercy champion to control this match from the get-go.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz vs Holger Rune
Head-to-Head: Alcaraz 1-0 Rune
A battle of the sports future (and present) will be on display in Paris on Friday as 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz squares off against 19-year-old Holger Rune. These two know each other well, having grown up as the top juniors born in 2003. As the current World No. 1, it is fair to say Alcaraz has had a quicker accent to the top. However, Rune has been one of the most impressive players on tour over the last month. He is 12-1 over that span, with his only loss coming to Auger-Aliassime.
Rune continues to improve in all facets of the game, but his comfortability from the service line has helped bring him inside the World’s top 20. Despite their age, Alcaraz and Rune hit some of the cleanest and most powerful groundstrokes on tour. Viewers should expect these two to play a lot of back-and-forth cross-court tennis. Whoever is more successful when taking the inevitable risk up the line will find success in this match. Give the Spaniard the edge as I believe he has a few more ways to puncture through Rune’s game.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
