The ATP European indoor swing continues in Metz, France, with an assembly of players aiming to finish the season strongly. In this piece, former champion Lorenzo Sonego will be in action, as will last year’s runner-up, Cameron Norrie, against opponents they’ll meet for the first time. Who will advance?
ATP Metz Day 2 Predictions
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs Vitaliy Sachko
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
This is the perfect matchup for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to end his three-match winless streak. In truth, he has lost valiantly against all higher-ranked players, with each requiring a tiebreak. In that context, it’ll be surprising if the outcome of this encounter is not a straight-sets win over the lucky loser.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 2
Cameron Norrie vs Valentin Royer
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Valentin Royer is undoubtedly one of the most improved players on tour this season. Previously a regular on the Challenger circuit, he has now seamlessly transitioned into the main tour, reaching his first final in Hangzhou, where he lost to Alexander Bublik in two tiebreakers. He will face Cameron Norrie for the first time, with the Brit looking to go one better than last year’s final he lost to Benjamin Bonzi. Norrie arrives in Metz on the back of a massive win over world number one Carlos Alcaraz in Paris, though he was ousted in the next round by Valentin Vacherot.
This season has seen a resurgence for Norrie, and he is the more experienced player in this one. However, Royer will be no pushover and will want to cap a remarkable season with a deep run in his home event. Interestingly, he hasn’t lost three consecutive matches all season, and I think the trend continues here. Give me the Frenchman to spring an upset.
Prediction: Royer in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Jan Choinski
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Lorenzo Sonego often plays some of his best tennis on indoor hard courts, and he showed that again in Paris, where he made a superb quarterfinal run before losing to Daniil Medvedev in an encounter he could have won. Up next for the Italian is English journeyman Jan Choinski, whom he meets for the first time. Choinski is in great form, having won 14 of his last 16 matches; however, the vast majority of those matches have been on clay and on the Challenger circuit. It will be a different ball game at this level, in these conditions, against a former champion.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports
