Tennis

Rolex Paris Masters Preview

Rafael Nadal V Novak Rolex Paris Masters

What to look out for….

The final ATP Masters 1000 event of the year, the Paris Masters, is upon us. Naturally, as the last tournament before the season-ending ATP Finals, it is surrounded with a lot of buzz as players look to end their season on a positive note.

Holding at the Accor Arena in Bercy, Paris from the 31st of October to the 6th of November, the top eight seeds receive a first round bye and will begin their campaign in the second round.

Missing out

World No.6 Alexander Zverev unfortunately withdrew from the tournament due to a right ankle injury.

The German has not played since tearing multiple ligaments in his ankle during his French Open semifinal match with Rafael Nadal in June. The 25-year-old was expected to return to action by representing his country in the Davis Cup group stage in September, before suffering as setback with a diagnosis of a bone edema in his right foot.

This definitely signals the end of Zverev’s season.

Also missing out is Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios. The Australian withdrew before his Japan Open quarterfinal match with Taylor Fritz earlier in October, citing a knee injury.

The 27-year-old then went ahead to withdraw from the ATP 500 tournament in Basel and the Paris Masters, marking a disappointing end to what has been quite an impressive season.

Frenchman Gael Monfils, going through an injury-plagued season, will be missing his home tournament. The 36-year-old has not stepped on a court since picking up a foot injury at the Canadian Open in August. He also recently welcomed his first child with wife and fellow tennis player Elina Svitolina.

Seeds

Carlos Alcaraz

Rafael Nadal

Casper Ruud

Daniil Medvedev

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Novak Djokovic

Andrey Rublev

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Taylor Fritz

Hubert Hurkacz

Jannik Sinner

Cameron Norrie

Matteo Berrettini

Pablo Carreno Busta

Marin Cilic

Frances Tiafoe

New territory for Alcaraz

This will be Carlos Alcaraz’s first time as top seed at a Masters 1000 tournament.

The 19-year-old became the youngest World No.1 in ATP history after clinching his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in September. He now has the weight of expectation on his shoulders more than ever.

The Spaniard will be looking to claim a third Masters 1000 title after triumphing in Miami and Madrid earlier in the year.

It will however not be an easy route to the title for Alcaraz, who is drawn in the same quarter as No.7 seed Rublev, No.10 seed Hurkacz and No.13 seed Berrettini. He is also in the same section of the draw as in-form fellow teenager Holger Rune.

Alcaraz will need to be at his very best in Paris to emerge victorious.

Djokovic brimming with confidence

Defending champion Djokovic heads to Paris in blistering form after winning back-to-back titles in Tel Aviv and Astana. The Serb now sets his sights on winning the title in Bercy for a record-extending seventh time.

“I feel good,” Djokovic said. “These last two competitions, in Astana and Tel Aviv, and the titles won have raised my level of confidence as well as my motivation.

“I hope to finish in the best possible way because this season was very unusual.”

Djokovic is drawn in the same half as fierce rival Nadal and could face World No.1 Alcaraz in the final.

Nadal will try to shake off the rust

Since losing to Frances Tiafoe in the US Open round of 16, 22-time Grand Slam champion has only played one doubles match at the Laver Cup alongside Roger Federer.

While the Spaniard has won two Grand Slam titles this season, he has also had to deal with a lot of injury issues. He now returns to action in Paris and will be understandably rusty. Whether his injury problems still remain is left to be seen.

Nadal has surprisingly never won the Paris Masters and is now faced with a tricky draw as he tries to finally win that elusive title in Bercy. Falling in the same half of the draw as Djokovic makes things even more problematic for the 36-year-old

On the way to the title, Nadal could also face in-form Shapovalov, who beat him in the round of 16 at the Rome Masters earlier in the year.

Mouth-watering First round matches to bet on:

Holger Rune v Stan Wawrinka: This makes such an interesting first round clash, especially as 19-year-old Rune is in the form of his life. After winning his second title of the year in Stockholm, the Dane has also made a deep run in Basel.

Veteran Wawrinka seems to be experiencing a resurgence since recently reuniting with coach Magnus Norman, with whom he won his three Grand Slam titles.

While Wawrinka is the more experienced one in this matchup, Rune is certainly favorite to notch the win. You can stake on that with 1.65 odds on Betking.

Taylor Fritz v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: Fritz desperately needs this win as he looks to qualify for the ATP Finals. He will most likely get it. Odds of 1.35 on BetKing reflects this, and represent good value for money.

Andy Murray v Gilles Simon: Former World No.1 Murray is the clear favorite here, but this is Simon’s final tournament as a professional tennis player. The crowd will definitely be on the Frenchman’s side but that might not be enough to get the big win. 1.22 odds on BetKing shows how likely it is for Murray to snap it, and that is where the betting angle is.

Miomir Kecmanovic v Cameron Norrie: Here is the final chance for Norrie to book his spot at the ATP Finals and he cannot afford an upset. Kecmanovic is a tricky opponent for the Brit, but Norrie should get the job done with 1.70 odds on BetKing – stake on it.

Projected quarterfinals: