The ATP Paris Masters congregates some of the best talents in tennis around the world, and this Round of 16 match between Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Argentina's Facundo Cerundolo is going to be a mighty treat of high-energy competition with tactical precision. Currently ranked ATP No. 11, Tsitsipas wants to continue his recent run of form and keep his Paris campaign on course. No. 29-ranked ATP Cerundolo comes into this match, having pulled off that stunning victory over top-seeded Andrey Rublev, which should give him lots of confidence and form coming into the match. Both come in with winning streaks, thus making this a pretty pivotal clash for their respective seasons.
Tsitsipas won in three at 2024 ATP Basel, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6.
The previous meeting was a closely fought contest that reflected the fighting spirit of the two players. While Tsitsipas won in Basel, the scoreline did suggest that Cerundolo was capable of pushing the higher-ranked Tsitsipas. Having played each other recently, there will be some level of familiarity, and it probably will affect the strategy of both as each tries to make amendments based on the weaknesses noted.
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A few days ago, Tsitsipas and Cerundolo played against each other at the ATP Basel tournament. Tsitsipas won in a very exhausting three-set battle. Aggressive baseline game with a good forehand is what Tsitsipas relies on. His experienced tactical discipline will be a key point in this contest. At the same time, the improvement Cerundolo has shown lately on hard courts, coupled with good adaptability during the rallies, makes him an unpredictable opponent. While Tsitsipas has more accolades on the ATP tour, the resilience of Cerundolo and his recent form hint at readiness to compete at the highest level. One thing in common between them is that they both love to dominate baseline rallies-so expect a lot of long, intense exchanges.
Tactical Approach
Tsitsipas's game plan will feature a predominant baseline game: controlling the match with his powerful forehand to dictate. Traditionally, the one-handed backhand can be very susceptible to heavy topspin shots-a fact that Cerundolo may look to capitalize on. Tsitsipas will also look to slice in and try some serve-and-volley tennis periodically to take Cerundolo out of his rhythm, where he will then have the advantage up at the net. Lastly, Tsitsipas will need to emphasize a high first-serve percentage, which has been the key to keeping Cerundolo on his back foot.
Cerundolo is always a player with great adaptability and tactical awareness. He will try to harass Tsitsipas's backhand constantly, most deep topspin shots which will push the Greek to usually play on his back foot. His game is about making rallies long, finally giving away errors. Cerundolo's backhand is compact, and he has to utilize it plenty to keep Tsitsipas out of balance. He would like to return the Tsitsipas serve deep and consistently in court, as Cerundolo's game plan would be to take away the aggressive shot-making from Tsitsipas.
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Both players have a very interesting contrast of styles and mental strengths. Tsitsipas is considered an aggressive baseliner, has had more experience with high-pressure events, and seems in good form, having won seven of his last ten matches, whereas his confidence has been bolstered by recent victories.
Still, Cerundolo has been in good form, especially with the high-profile win over Rublev. With six wins in his last ten matches, the confidence of Cerundolo is very high, and his consistency on hard courts has started to become more noticeable. His four-set winning streak reveals his ability to close out tightly contested sets, and he is more than capable of pressuring Tsitsipas into opening up a path for him.
This would be a slight edge for Tsitsipas, but the momentum of Cerundolo with his tenacity and recent win against a top player, this match could be tighter than perhaps the ranking would suggest. While both players possess strong serves and baseline strokes, it is Tsitsipas's experience and tactical flexibility that may help him out.
- Over 22 Games @ 1.63 Odds
- Correct Score 2-0 @ 2.31 Odds
- Total Sets (2) @ 1.61 Odds