Paris Masters 2020: Tommy Paul vs Gilles Simon preview, head-to-head and prediction
Match details
Fixture: Tommy Paul vs Gilles Simon
Date: 3 November 2020
Tournament: Rolex Paris Masters 2020
Round: Round of 64 (First round)
Venue: Paris, France
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Indoor hardcourt
Prize money: €3,901,015
Match timing: Approx. 3 pm local time, 7.30 pm IST
Live telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel | India - Sony Six / Sony Liv
Tommy Paul vs Gilles Simon preview
American star Tommy Paul will battle French veteran Gilles Simon in the first round of Paris Masters 2020.
Paul began his 2020 season ranked at the 90th position in men's singles. But the 23-year-old played brilliantly in the first quarter of the season, reaching a career-high rank of No. 57 in March 2020.
Unfortunately for Paul, the COVID-19 break hurt his momentum as he couldn't win a single match at the Cincinnati Masters, the US Open or the Rome Masters. But the American showed signs of coming back to form at Hamburg, where he made it to the pre-quarterfinals. Paul also performed decently at Roland Garros and the Forte Village Sardegna Open.
Paul suffered a straight-set loss to Feliciano Lopez in Antwerp to start his indoor hardcourt swing on a rough note. But last week he made a quarterfinal appearance in Nur Sultan, where he fell to John Millman despite holding two match points.
Former World No. 6 Gilles Simon will look to take advantage of Paul's recent inconsistencies. That said, the local hope has himself had a hit-or-miss run on the tour of late.
Simon lost in the first round of the French Open, and then Roberto Bautista Agut ended his bett1Hulks Indoors 2020 campaign in the second round. However, the Frenchman does have some momentum on his side heading into his home tournament.
Simon recorded a bagel over rising star Jannik Sinner in his quarterfinal match at the bett1Hulks Championships, before losing in three sets. He also defeated the third-seeded Denis Shapovalov in that event.
Tommy Paul vs Gilles Simon head-to-head
Tommy Paul and Gilles Simon have never battled on tour before. Their head-to-head record currently stands at 0-0.
Tommy Paul vs Gilles Simon head-to-head
Neither Tommy Paul nor Gilles Simon had a productive clay swing, but they have been performing decently on indoor hardcourt. Paris-Bercy will offer more of the same conditions, so both players will fancy their chances.
Paul enjoys bashing the ball from the baseline, while Simon likes to use the pace of his opponents against them. This first-round match promises to be a cracker of a contest, and Simon's defense could play a massive role in deciding the winner.
Playing against Jannik Sinner, Simon lost the first set 3-6, but then he turned the tables by winning eight games in a row. Paul would need to be wary of the Frenchman's ability to hang around even when put on the backfoot.
Prediction: Gilles Simon to win in three sets.