Paris R1 previews and predictions: Muller vs. Almagro, Sock vs. Kohlschreiber

Fellow veterans Gilles Muller and Nicolas Almagro are squaring off as second-round action continues on Tuesday in Paris. Meanwhile, Jack Sock will look to maintain his recent hot streak when he goes up against Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Nicolas Almagro vs. Gilles Muller

Muller and Almagro will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers when they clash in round one of the BNP Paribas Masters on Tuesday. Their only previous encounter came eight years ago at the U.S. Open, where Muller won a 6-7(3), 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 7-5 thriller. The Luxembourgian is still going strong at 33 years old, as he registers at 34th in the rankings and is in contention for a seed at the 2017 Australian Open. His fall swing includes a quarterfinal showing in Tokyo and a semifinal performance last week in Basel.

Almagro’s post-U.S. Open stretch has been less impressive. The 44th-ranked Spaniard lost in the Metz first round, the Shanghai second round, the Stockholm second round, and the Vienna first round. Muller would like the Paris courts to play faster than they are, but current form suggests he still should be able to get the job done.

Pick: Muller in 3

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Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Jack Sock

Sock is in fine form–to the extent that he currently No. 1 in an ever-changing race for the top spot among American men–as he wraps up a stellar 2016 campaign. As usual, the American has been raking in doubles titles. He triumphed in Shanghai with John Isner and this past week in Basel with Marcel Granollers in addition to a runner-up finish in Beijing with Bernard Tomic. Sock, ranked 24th, reached the Shanghai quarters in singles before finishing runner-up to Juan Martin Del Potro in Stockholm.

Up next for him on Tuesday is a first-ever meeting with Kohlschreiber, who is dangerously close to finding himself in a rare position of being unseeded for a Grand Slam when next year’s Australian Open rolls around. The 32nd-ranked German had dealt with injury issues this year but owns a decent 32-20 record. He ended a streak of three straight opening-round losses by reaching the Moscow semifinals before turning in a second-round performance in Vienna (beat Stephane Robert, lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga). A confident Sock should have too much firepower and will likely bring an end to Kohlschreiber’s season.

Pick: Sock in 2

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