Denis Shapovalov will try to make another run in Montreal as he continues his week against Dominic Thiem on Wednesday. Karen Khachanov and Stan Wawrinka are also on the second-round schedule.
Denis Shapovalov vs. (2) Dominic Thiem
Shapovalov was the sensation of the Rogers Cup the last time it was played in Montreal (2017). Just 18 years old at the time, Shapovalov upset Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafael Nadal before falling to eventual champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. The 32nd-ranked Canadian also played well last summer in Toronto, reaching the third round. He laid the foundation for another Rogers Cup run by beating Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3, 7-5 on Monday night.
Up next for Shapovalov is a second career contest against Thiem, who won their only previous meeting 6-2, 6-3 last spring in Acapulco. This could be danger time for Thiem, who is coming off a title in Kitzbuhel on Saturday and making a transition from clay to hard courts. The fourth-ranked Austrian also made a quick turnaround after triumphing in Indian Wells and lost right away in Miami to Hubert Hurkacz. With Shapovalov playing at home and obviously confident in Montreal, Thiem may be in trouble.
Pick: Shapovalov in 3
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(6) Karen Khachanov vs. Stan Wawrinka
Khachanov and Wawrinka will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the third time in less than a year on Wednesday. Wawrinka has won both of their previous encounters, prevailing 7-6(10), 7-6(1) last fall on the indoor hard courts of St. Petersburg before getting the job done 7-6(7), 6-4 to begin this season in Doha. The 34-year-old Swiss, who just barely missed out on Rogers Cup seeding at No. 22 in the world, opened with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Grigor Dimitrov on Monday.
As the sixth seed in Montreal, Khachanov was one of eight players to earn a first-round bye. The eighth-ranked Russian, who is a modest 18-17 for his 2019 campaign, will be looking to bounce back from an opening loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Washington, D.C. Based on current form, past history against each other, and Wawrinka already having a match under his belt, an “upset” is possible if not probable.
Pick: Wawrinka in 2
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WWW?
Domi in 2, Wawa in 3.
Theim in 3
Wawrinka in 2
Shapovalov might win but I can’t respect someone that lives in a North American/Canadian shell and can’t perform outside his backyard.
Thiem and Stan time, both in three.
The conditions in Montreal might suit Thiem well ,like Indian Wells. Plus Shapo makes too many unforced errors. He does have other advantages, so tough one to pick.
Al, the only reason Theim might lose is due to the transition back to hardcourts otherwise Theim wins this all day. I actually think Theim is developing into a very good hardcourt playerwhich he proved in IW.
That should be fresh in his memory which is why he should just get the win after a dominant set and a half from Shapo.