Finals previews and predictions: Mannarino vs. Draper, Humbert vs. Shevchenko

A couple of left-handed Frenchmen are hoping to wrap up their 2023 campaigns with titles on Saturday. Adrian Mannarino is facing Jack Draper in Sofia, while Ugo Humbert is going up against Alexander Shevchenko in Metz.

Sofia Open: Jack Draper vs. (2) Adrian Mannarino

Draper will be playing in an ATP title match for the first time in his career when he faces Mannarino on Saturday afternoon at the Sofia Open. The 21-year-old Brit is concluding another injury-plagued season on tour, which is why he still finds himself down at No. 82 in the rankings. When healthy, however, Draper has been very good. He is 15-10 on the main tour in 2023 with fourth-round performances at the Indian Wells Masters and U.S. Open. Draper’s fall swing includes two Challenger final appearances (one title) and his overall winning streak stands at nine matches thanks to a triumph at the Bergamo Challenger followed by Sofia victories over Maximilian Marterer, Lorenzo Musetti, Cem Ilkel, and Jan-Lennard Struff.

Mannarino will undoubtedly be Draper’s toughest test of the week. The 25th-ranked Frenchman is a proven force on indoor hard courts (and grass, for that matter) and his fall swing already features a title in Astana–his second ATP success this season and fourth of his career. Mannarino has remained hot in Sofia by ousting Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Sebastian Ofner, and Pavel Kotov. This is the 35-year-old’s 15th ATP final, so he holds a huge experience edge over his much younger opponent.

Pick: Mannarino in 3

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Moselle Open: (4) Ugo Humbert vs. Alexander Shevchenko

Humbert and Shevchenko will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they battle for the Moselle Open title on Saturday afternoon. Outside of a few guys in the Nitto ATP Finals, nobody has been hotter than Humbert these days. The 23rd-ranked Frenchman has reached at least the quarterfinals of seven tournaments since Wimbledon, including three semifinals (not including this week) and now a final in Metz. Finishing the year on a huge high, Humbert has treated the home crowd in Metz to defeats of Dominic Thiem, Harold Mayot, and Fabio Fognini.

Not unlike the Sofia matchup, this pits an experienced Frenchman against an opponent playing in his first ATP championship match. Shevchenko has made a name for himself in 2023 with all 16 of his lifetime ATP-level match wins, including this week over Mathias Bourge, Mate Valkusz, Karen Khachanov, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Outside of Khachanov, it has been a remarkably favorable draw for the 22-year-old Russian. In his first final and facing an extremely in-form opponent, this is likely where it ends for Shevchenko.

Pick: Humbert in 2

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