ATP Masters in Paris, 2nd round, Wednesday, 02.11.2022
The 2022 tennis season is entering the home stretch! After quite a few surprises and high-flyers, the world’s best players seem to want to show their best side once again, especially now that another big Masters is coming up in Paris.
For Daniil Medvedev, this year has been extremely turbulent. The new world number 1, many defeats, the loss of the top ranking and the private highlight, the birth of his first child, things have not been boring for him at all.
On Wednesday, he enters the tournament in the French capital, and is directly favoured at Bwin. His opponent is not an easy one, but one who has never won against the Russian. In my Medvedev de Minaur tip, I reveal why I would bet on some games!
Up and down? If there is one term to describe Daniil Medvedev’s season, it is probably this one. Actually, he had hoped for more titles and better Grand Slams, but the decisive moments were not on his side this time.
After a short break and the birth of his daughter, the Russian competed in Vienna. He beat Dominic Thiem, Nikolos Bassilaschwili, Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov in two sets, showed his best side.
Only in the final against Denis Shapovalov did he slip up a little, but in the end he still won the title 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. It is clear that he is now one of the top favourites for the Masters in Paris.
He knows the tournament well and has already celebrated great successes here. He reached the final in each of the last two years. While he won against Alexander Zverev in three sets in 2020, he lost narrowly to Novak Djokovic a year later.
For a 1st round player, it should not be a lucky draw to meet Alex de Minaur straight away. Medvedev has already met the current world number 25 four times and his record could not be more impeccable.
All duels went to Medvedev, two in three sets, two others straight. Two years ago, the two faced each other in Paris, the Russian winning the match 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 after coming from behind.
With average odds of 1.22 to 4.10, the 26-year-old is in front with the bookmakers. Alex de Minaur knows he has never been able to get a win against this opponent.
Unlike Medvedev, he has already made his first appearance in Paris, starting with an exhausting 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Even he converted three of eleven break chances, was lucky that Sebastian Korda could only take two of his 13 opportunities.
After his exit in the 3rd round of the US Open, the Australian’s performances were changeable. Whether out in round 1 or semi-final, both were possible. In Stockholm, the final beckoned, but de Minaur lost narrowly to Holger Rune.
In Switzerland a few days ago, it was Rune again who ended de Minaur’s tournament. At 1.83 metres, he will have clear disadvantages on serve compared to Daniil Medvedev, who is 15 centimetres taller.
My Medvedev de Minaur Tip
Does Daniil Medvedev regain his very best form just before the winter break? In Vienna, the Russian showed himself to be in the best of moods, clearing the title with only one lost set.
For Paris, he is one of the big favourites for the title. He won all four games against Alex de Minaur, that is clear. But: The Australian is a guarantor for close matches, even against Medvedev it was very close. That’s why my tip is also:
We see more than 19.5 games!
