Paris R2 previews and predictions: Zverev vs. Tiafoe, Nishikori vs. Mannarino

Alexander Zverev will face young American Frances Tiafoe in the Paris Masters second round on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Kei Nishikori continues his Nitto ATP Finals quest against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

(4) Alexander Zverev vs. Frances Tiafoe

Strangely, this will be the first match of  2018 between Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev. In 2017, the two men played three times; Zverev won the first two at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, but Tiafoe exacted some revenge at the Cincinnati Masters.

Both players are part of the ATP’s NextGen, but it’s Zverev who has distinguished himself among his young colleagues. Although the German hasn’t yet made any real noise at the majors, nine career titles by age 21 is impressive. He absorbed a strange loss last week in Basel at the hands of qualifier Marius Copil, yet he made the semifinal both in Basel and the week before at the Shanghai Masters–good results by most standards.

Tiafoe hasn’t quite had the year Zverev has, but he won his first tour title in Delray Beach and he’s ranked a respectable 44th in the world. The American has endured a dreadful fall season; he’s barely managed to string two wins at a time. He defeated Nicolas Mahut, the French qualifier in the first round…but Zverev is no Mahut.

Cheryl pic: Zverev in 3

Ricky pick: Zverev in 2

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(10) Kei Nishikori vs. Adrian Mannarino

Japan’s Kei Nishikori is ranked No. 11 in the world, far above Adrian Mannarino’s 46th, but the match winner may not be as obvious as it first seems. First, Mannarino just had an out-of-nowhere run to the final in Moscow–where he eventually lost to Karen Khachanov. The Frenchman didn’t defeat anyone quite of Nishikori’s quality, but he did dispatch world No. 19 Marco Checchinato en route to the title match

Nishikori has had a busy couple of months. The former U.S. Open runner-up made the final in both Tokyo and Vienna and the quarters in Shanghai, as well. Fatigue may well play a role in his performance this week in the final Masters event of the season. Further, Mannarino is capable of playing better than his ranking–making him a dangerous opening-round opponent.

Cheryl pick: Nishikori in 3

Ricky pick: Nishikori in 2

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