Diego Sebastián Schwartzman vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Prediction & Betting Tips - Rolex Paris Masters

Prediction published on 04/11/2020, 12:35  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 04/11/2020 at 13:35 in Tennis Predictions

The Paris Masters is at the last sixteen stage but this match between Diego Schwartzman and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is also important in other ways. Schwartzman is the seventh seed for this tournament and also needing points to qualify for the ATP Tour Finals that take place later this month. Only a place in the semi-finals of this tournament will qualify him for the London event. That means winning this mtch and then getting past likely quarter final opponent Daniil Medvedev. Schwartzman beat home favourite Richard Gasquet in his first match of this tournament. That match was won in straight sets and was his first match since losing to Alexander Zverev in the final of the Cologne event held on October 25. On his way to that final, he just happened to take on Fokina and beat him in the quarter finals, though he had to come from a set down. Schwartzman has been in good form in the past few tournaments actually. He reached the final of the Rome Masters and semi-finals of the French Open with wins over both Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem. That was on clay but he did make it to the last sixteen in the Australian Open.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is ranked 63rd in the world, 54 places below his opponent. He caused a surprise in the first round of this event when knocking out 11th seed and former winner Karen Khachanov. That win was followed by a straight sets victory over qualifier Benjamin Bonzi (ranked 180th in the world)  Fokina played in both of the recent Cologne events, reaching the semi-finals in the first and quarter final of the second (where remember, he lost to Schwartzman). He didn't beat any players ranked above 40 in those two tournaments and hadn't all year until the win over Khachanov. This is much tougher a challenge for Fokina and Schwartzman can get the win to maintain his hopes of reaching London.