Lorenzo Musetti vs Nikoloz Basilashvili Prediction & Betting Tips - Rolex Paris Masters

Prediction published on 01/11/2022, 07:22  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/11/2022 at 09:08 in Tennis Predictions

The second round of the Paris Masters sees Lorenzo Musetti up against Nikoloz Basilashvili. Whoever wins this match will face either third seed Casper Ruud or wild card Richard Gasquet in the last 16. Musetti began this tournament at a career high ranking of 23rd and a win here will see him in the third round of the Paris Masters for the first time. In July he was only 62nd in the rankings but the past couple of months have seen him in good form. He reached the semi-finals in both Sofia and Antwerp before winning the title in Naples, beating fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini in the final.  He lost in his first match in Basel last week but bounced back to form with a straight sets win over 15th seeded Marin Cilic in the first round of the Paris Masters.

Nikoloz Basilashvili was as high as 18th in the rankings in March. He began this week in 106th position but is up to 95th after his first round win over qualifier Quinten Halys. It's not been a good year for Basilashvili who before the win over Halys had won only 12 of his 40 matches played on the ATP Tour this year.  He'd lost three matches in a row before his first round win in this tournament. His last time past the last 16 of a tournament was in late April on clay in Munich. His only previous meeting against his oppoment was on grass this year with Basilashvili winning. This is a hard court match though and  Musetti is the clear form pick here and can win in straight sets.