Paris Masters 2024: Daniil Medvedev vs Alexei Popyrin preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Daniil Medvedev vs Alexei Popyrin
Date: 30 October, 2024
Tournament: Paris Masters 2024
Round: Second round (Round of 32)
Venue: AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
Category: Masters 1000
Surface: Hardcourt (Indoor)
Prize Money: $6,304,619
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Daniil Medvedev vs Alexei Popyrin preview
Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev is slated to kick off his 2024 Paris Masters campaign with a high-stakes second-round clash against Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday, October 30.
Medvedev arrives in Paris with a 45-18 season record but is still searching for his first title of the year. His best performances so far have been runner-up finishes in Melbourne and Indian Wells early in the season. He has struggled to maintain his usual dominance in the second half, posting a modest 4-3 record during the North American hardcourt swing, where his only wins came in New York.
His Asian tour also proved challenging, as he suffered crushing defeats to Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open semifinals and Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals.
Popyrin, in contrast, has had a solid season with a 26-21 record, highlighted by his first Masters 1000 title in Montreal, where he defeated Andrey Rublev in the final. He also claimed arguably the biggest victory of his career at the US Open, overcoming Novak Djokovic in the third round. Other notable results include a semifinal run in Qatar and a third-round finish at Wimbledon.
Popyrin last played at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, where he lost in the first round to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. He opened his Paris campaign with a gritty 7-5, 7-6 (2) win over former World No. 6 Matteo Berrettini.
Daniil Medvedev vs Alexei Popyrin head-to-head
Daniil Medvedev leads Alexei Popyrin 3-0 in their head-to-head and won their previous encounter 7-6 (3), 6-7 (7), 6-4 in Miami back in 2021.
Daniil Medvedev vs Alexei Popyrin odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Daniil Medvedev vs Alexei Popyrin prediction
Daniil Medvedev's season has been far from ideal, especially in the latter half. The hardcourt specialist has struggled on his preferred surface, posting a 28-11 record without a title this year. His indoor season has been even more challenging, as he continues to search for his first victory, currently holding a 0-2 record.
Alexei Popyrin, on the other hand, has faced issues with consistency but has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year. Despite a recent dip with only two wins in his last five matches since his strong US Open run, he looked sharp in his Paris opener. He delivered a powerful serving performance and demonstrated effective net play, hitting 33 winners and clinching key points at critical moments.
Medvedev enters this clash as the favorite despite his recent setbacks, thanks to his superior career record on hardcourts and indoors. He’s also a former champion in Bercy, having claimed the title in 2020, and that will give him a lot of confidence.
Pick: Medvedev in straight sets.