Jordan Thompson vs Adrian Mannarino Prediction: Australian Jordan Thompson Faces Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in a Clash of Styles on Paris’s Indoor Courts

As the Paris Masters reach the latter stages, we will be treated to the Round-of-16 showdown between the world No. 28 Jordan Thompson and home favorite Adrian Mannarino, ranked No. 58 in Paris, France. Both have delivered some great performances of late, with Thompson fresh off a huge win over Casper Ruud, while Mannarino took a good win against Zizou Bergs. The head-to-head is in favor of Mannarino, who leads 5-3, but with Thompson taking their last encounter at the Washington Open last year, it is clear that he can reverse the course in the eighth match the two players have been locked in. That will be an interesting match-up, style and strategy pitted against one other as each tries to take one of the coveted quarterfinal spots in the tournament.

Jordan Thompson arrives at the Paris Masters in good form, fresh from beating World No. 9 Casper Ruud just recently. An aggressive baseliner who serves dependably, Thompson's game takes well to indoor hard courts where he can make the most of his power and athleticism. On the other side of the net, Adrian Mannarino is a relative contrast, as left-hand play is at the core of his game, underlined by finesse, oozed with precisely played angles and excellent recoveries. He plays at home and thus is assured of crowd support, if indeed this match needed any more potential.

The ranking gap between the pair may still be large, but in terms of actual form, the pair can hardly be closer-with both men claiming a couple of straight wins to start the season before ultimately evening their respective win-loss tallies across their last ten matches. Really, it seems the question is: whose power will outlast whose finesse? Let's break it down by tactic, head-to-head, and form to find an answer.

Thompson has made a reputation for himself as a strong baseline player who continues to remain in rallies by exchanging powerful groundstrokes. He will be looking forward to dominating rallies from the back of the court, especially with his forehand, which he uses to change the pace and direction of play. Serving effectively is going to be important for Thompson. He needs to find high first-serve percentages and then follows those up with aggressive forehands that push Mannarino onto his back foot. This aggressive game style of Thompson may pressurize Mannarino during key moments. If he can contain his unforced errors low, then he will be in a very good position to capitalize on Mannarino's defensive returns.

Mannarino does a good job of creatively using the court with sharp angles and the lefty advantage to keep Thompson on the run. His game is about placement and not about raw power; he is someone who forces opponents into uncomfortable positions. Mannarino will most probably slow down the pace of the game to disturb Thompson's rhythm. A mix of spins, slices, and flat shots will make Thompson generate his own pace, therefore increasing the likelihood of unforced errors. The consistency in his defense will prolong the rallies with Mannarino, who will push Thompson to hit winners. That would be his game - to wear Thompson out and just wait for the chances to counter-attack.

This could be a tight, tactical Round of 16, as Mannarino's court craft takes on Thompson's raw power. Mannarino may well be able to stretch Thompson with judicious placements and deft defense, but the latter's aggressive baseline play, along with the confidence derived from his previous matches, mean that he is likely to make his way through in three. This must be an extended game with long exchanges of rallies between both seasoned performers, fighting for the right to reach the quarterfinals, exciting the crowd here in Paris.

• Jordan Thompson Wins @ 1.61 Odds
• Over 22.5 Games @ 1.74 Odds
• Jordan Thompson Wins 2-1 @ 3.60 Odds