Shanghai R1 previews and predictions: Goffin vs. Del Potro, Pouille vs. Verdasco

Juan Martin Del Potro will be back in action when he takes the court against Tokyo runner-up David Goffin on Tuesday in Shanghai. The second day of the first-round schedule also includes Lucas Pouille and Fernando Verdasco.

(WC) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. (11) David Goffin

Del Potro is set for his first tournament since the U.S. Open as heads into his opener at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Tuesday. The Argentine’s latest comeback from wrist surgery reached new heights this summer with a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and a quarterfinal run in New York. Del Potro followed up his U.S. Open performance by upsetting Andy Murray in a five-set Davis Cup thriller as Argentina ousted Great Britain 3-2 to reach the final. The 27-year-old is 23-10 for the season and will be looking to maintain momentum at a tournament where he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2013.

Up first for Del Potro is Goffin, whom he has never faced. The 12th-ranked Belgian is an outstanding 42-20 for the year and finds himself in outside contention for a berth in the World Tour Finals. Goffin cooled off briefly on the heels of semifinal showings in Indian Wells and Miami plus a quarterfinal performance at the French Open, but he regained his form by reaching last week’s Tokyo title match (lost to Nick Kyrgios 7-5 in the third set). Having to make such a quick turnaround and doing so against a red-hot opponent may be too much to ask of Goffin.

Pick: Del Potro in 2

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(13) Lucas Pouille vs. Fernando Verdasco

Pouille and Verdasco will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season when they meet again on Tuesday. They previously clashed in the final of the clay-court event in Bucharest, where Verdasco triumphed 6-3, 6-2. It is Pouille, however, who has soared since that encounter. The 22-year-old Frenchman is up to No. 16 in the world thanks in part to quarterfinal finishes at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and a recent title–the first of his career–on the indoor hard courts of Metz.

Verdasco has struggled since the clay-court swing, during which he not only lifted the Bucharest trophy but also reached the Bastad final (lost to Albert Ramos-Vinolas). The 44th-ranked Spaniard is 6-8 in his last 14 matches and 1-4 in his last five after falling to Marin Cilic 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the Tokyo second round. Based on current form, Pouille should have a clear edge in this one.

Pick: Pouille in 2

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