Metz R2 previews and predictions: Goffin vs. Almagro, Paire vs. Granollers

David Goffin will kick off his campaign as the No. 2 seed in Metz when he takes the court against Nicolas Almagro on Thursday. The second-round schedule also includes a showdown between Benoit Paire and Marcel Granollers.

Nicolas Almagro vs. (2) David Goffin

Goffin and Almagro will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers when they meet again in round two of the Moselle Open on Thursday. Almagro is leading the head-to-head series 3-2, but he has not defeated Goffin since 2013 and the Belgian has taken their two most recent encounters. Goffin prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at the 2016 French Open and again on clay via a 7-5, 6-1 decision at the Monte-Carlo Masters this spring.

The world No. 12’s promising clay-court swing ended with a freak ankle injury at Roland Garros and he has not been the same since. Even at less than 100 percent, however, Goffin managed to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open before falling to Andrey Rublev. He is coming off Davis Cup heroics for Belgium, with four-set victories over John Millman and Nick Kyrgios to lead his country into a November final against France. Almagro booked his place in the Metz second round by beating Julien Benneteau 7-6(3), 7-5 on Tuesday. The 131st-ranked Frenchman also got injured at the French Open and did not return until August, during which he compiled a 1-3 record (1-2 at the Challenger level in addition to a U.S. Open loss to Steve Johnson). Whereas Goffin seems to have gotten back on track, Almagro is still slumping and his woes will likely be extended on Thursday.

Pick: Goffin in 2

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(7) Benoit Paire vs. Marcel Granollers.

Coming off an unspectacular hard-court summer, Paire could use a productive fall swing if he wants to break into the top 32 and get seeded for the 2018 Australian Open. The 41st-ranked French reached the Wimbledon fourth round but went 3-5 thereafter (2-3 on hard courts). Paire appeared to get back on track when he took care of lucky loser Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday in Metz.

Up next for the No. 7 seed is a sixth career contest against Granollers, who leads the head-to-head series 3-2. They have faced each other only once since 2014, and that tilt came this spring on the red clay of Barcelona–where Paire prevailed 6-3, 7-6(6). Granollers has been an absolute disaster in singles this season, with a 4-14 record that has him down at No. 135 in the world. The 31-year-old Spaniard at least managed to battle his way to a 7-6(9), 3-6, 7-6(8) victory over Simone Bolelli on Tuesday during which he saved one match point at 6-5 in the third-set tiebreaker. Paire has home-court advantage and clear edge in current form, so he should get the job done without too much trouble.

Pick: Paire in 2

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