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Promising young American Learner Tien will take the court at the Paris Masters on Tuesday against Russia’s Andrey Rublev. Fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev will also be in action against Spain’s Jaume Munar.
(12) Andrey Rublev vs. Learner Tien
American Learner Tien has played some of his best tennis in the past month. The teenager made the final in Beijing and the round of 16 in Shanghai. He has never won a title, but he’s getting closer and closer. Tien got knocked out of the U.S. Open in the first round, but he was unlucky to draw Novak Djokovic. He’s already a player to watch, and if he continues this trend he will be a legitimate threat.
Tien and Rolex Paris Masters opponent Andrey Rublev played twice earlier this year, both during the summer hard-court swing. They split wins at one each. The Russian has had a miserable streak of late. Following his fourth-round exit at the U.S. Open, he won zero matches in four tournaments played prior to Paris. Rublev is the higher-ranked player and more experienced, but this is a winnable match for Tien.
Cheryl pick: Tien in 3
Ricky pick: Rublev in 3
Jaume Munar vs. (11) Daniil Medvedev
It has been a wild year for former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev. The Russian’s ranking dipped to No. 18 due in part to his shocking performances at the majors, where he won exactly one match. He has turned it around this autumn, though. Thanks to a couple of semifinals in Beijing and Shanghai and then his first title of the year in Almaty earlier this month, his ranking is back at No. 13.
Medvedev lost to Jaume Munar in March at the Miami Masters. Munar plays the kind of consistent tennis that often gives Medvedev difficulty, but since the veteran’s form was so off, few conclusions can be drawn from that encounter. Medvedev appears to be back on his game now, so he has to be considered a clear favorite in Tuesday’s showdown.
Cheryl pick: Medvedev in 2
Ricky pick: Medvedev in 2
