Photo credit – The Dallas Open at the Frisco Star
A jam-packed slate of third-round competition is set for Thursday in Paris, including a showdown between Ben Shelton and Andrey Rublev. Alexander Zverev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are also in action.
(5) Ben Shelton vs. (12) Andrey Rublev
Shelton and Rublev will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday. Their only previous meeting also came on an indoor hard court, with Shelton prevailing 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 on his way to the Basel final in 2024.
Both guys could really use a deep run this week. Shelton is making his way back from a shoulder injury sustained at the U.S. Open, and his match record during his comeback is 2-2 following Tuesday’s 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Flavio Cobolli. Rublev had not won a single match since the U.S. Open (0-4)–with his losses coming to opponents ranked 88th, 25th, 173rd, and 35th–before ending the skid with Paris defeats of Jake Fearnley and Learner Tien. Unfortunately for the world No. 17, Shelton is a big step up in competition and the American’s shoulder seems fine. Now that the fifth seed has shaken off much of the rust, he should be able to secure a quarterfinal spot in Paris.
Pick: Shelton in 3
(15) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. (3) Alexander Zverev
Zverev is the defending champion at the Paris Masters; Davidovich Fokina is still in search of his first ATP title after losing another final last weekend. One player’s quest will come to an end when they collide for the seventh time in their careers on Thursday. Zverev leads the head-to-head series 5-1, but they have played three matches since the German last won in straight sets–a stretch that includes Davidovich Fokina’s lone success at the 2023 Toronto Masters. Zverev most recently scored a 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(0) victory at this year’s Madrid Masters.
Another good one should be in the cards. Zverev is a considerable favorite, but he required a tight three-setter to get past Camilo Ugo Carabelli on Wednesday. Although Davidovich Fokina is playing great, fatigue has to be a factor. The 15th-ranked German finished runner-up to Joao Fonseca this past week in Basel and he used of a lot of physical and emotional energy–mainly with the fans–in a spirited 7-6(5), 6-4 defeat of France’s Arthur Cazaux on Wednesday. That was preceded by a three-set win over Valentin Royer. It what is likely to be a grueling baseline battle in slow conditions, Davidovich Fokina may run out of gas in the end.
Pick: Zverev in 3
