The field is now set at the final tournament of the regular ATP season with the biggest stars in the men’s game ready to take to the court at the Paris Masters and as ever we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for as many of the matches as possible, including Andrey Rublev’s clash with former champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The battle for the year-end #1 ranking between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could be decided this week, whilst two spots at the ATP Finals remain up for grabs. The big guns, however, will not enter the fray until later in the week. But who will advance on day one?
Paris Masters Day One Predictions
Marin Cilic vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Cilic 2-0 Hurkacz
It has been an extremely disappointing season for Marin Cilic, who has fallen outside of the world’s top 20 and won just 21 matches. That is a very poor return for a player of his quality. He did reach the semifinals at the Kremlin Cup earlier this month, losing to eventual champion Andrey Rublev, but that run was a rare bright spot and last time out he lost in the first round to David Goffin in Basel. Hubert Hurkacz, meanwhile, has enjoyed a breakthrough season, but he has stalled of late.
After winning his first tour-level title in Winston-Salem, the Pole has struggled, winning just two matches since that stellar week in North Carolina, both in Shanghai. He has also lost both of his previous matches with Cilic, which came last year at Roland Garros and the US Open. But despite his recent poor run of form, he has improved considerably since and the slow conditions at the Paris Masters should suit him better than Cilic. This looks set to be close, but expect Hurkacz to edge it.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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Jeremy Chardy vs Sam Querrey
Head-to-head: Querrey 3-2 Chardy
It is a mark of the poor season that Querrey has had, his run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals aside, that he had to qualify into the main draw at the Paris Masters. But he did so in impressive fashion, brushing aside the Frenchmen Elliot Benchetrit and Rayane Roumane, beating both in straight-sets. However, he may receive a sterner examination at the hands of their compatriot Jeremy Chardy, who also qualified into the main draw, beating Albert Ramos Vinolas and Corentin Moutet.
There has been little to split the pair so far in their rivalry, although this will be their first meeting since the 2015 Sydney International, where Chardy scored a 6-4 6-4 win. This seems likely to be another close contest, but Querrey might just be able to carve out some key advantages. Chardy can struggle badly behind his second serve, whilst Querrey should enjoy the high-bouncing court surface and indoor conditions, particularly when he is serving.
Prediction: Querrey in 3
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Casper Ruud vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: first meeting
Norway’s Casper Ruud is another player in action on day one who made his way into the main draw through the qualifying, beating the in-form Mikael Ymer and Frenchman Hugo Gaston to do so. Adrian Mannarino, who reached the final at the Kremlin Cup earlier this month, was awarded a wild card. But the Paris Masters has not been a happy hunting ground for the world #44, who has won just four matches in eight visits to Bercy. The reason for that is not entirely hard to understand.
Mannarino is always a difficult opponent to face, due to the unusual lack of topspin he puts on the ball and his excellent court coverage. But he struggles to get any real penetration on the slow hard court at the Paris Masters, allowing more powerful opponents to pick him off. And whilst Ruud is not one of the biggest hitters on tour, he does have a useful forehand and can step into his backhand when in the ascendancy. Expect him to overpower Mannarino, though this match may well go the distance.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
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Cameron Norrie vs Milos Raonic
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been another injury hit season for Milos Raonic, whose career has faltered due to an inability to stay fit. But he has played some excellent tennis in Bercy in the past, reaching the final in 2014 and the semifinals two years later. But the Canadian looked short of match fitness and sharpness on his return from injury in Vienna last week, losing his opener to Hyeon Chung in straight-sets. In that match, the Korean was able to wear Raonic down in the longer rallies, drawing errors from the former-world #3. One suspects that Norrie will feel confident about his chances of doing the same. The Briton has enjoyed a solid season and played well in coming through the qualifying. Raonic’s serve is good enough to ensure that this will be a contest, but it is a contest that Norrie seems the likelier to win.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
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