A blockbuster first-rounder between Stan Wawrinka and Benoit Paire headlines the first day of action in Rotterdam. Monday’s schedule also includes a meeting between Nikoloz Basilashvili and Hyeon Chung.
Benoit Paire vs. (WC) Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka and Paire will be squaring off for the 12th time in their careers when they collide in round one of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Monday. The head-to-head series stands at 8-3 in favor of Wawrinka, although they have split two previous indoor hard-court encounters (the Swiss cruised 6-2, 6-3 four years ago in Marseille before Paire prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 at the same event one season later).
This is their first meeting since the spring of 2017–really the last time Wawrinka was at his peak. Injuries derailed his 2018 campaign, but he is finally on the way back up at 57th in the rankings. The 33-year-old is an even 3-3 in 2019 with a quarterfinal performance in Doha, a second-round showing at the Australian Open (lost to Milos Raonic in four tiebreakers), and an opening loss in Sofia. Paire is just 3-5 in his last eight matches–including challengers–following a terrible 6-2, 6-0 setback against Tomas Berdych in Montpellier. The 58th-ranked Frenchman is lacking confidence and will likely fall victim once again to Wawrinka’s onslaught of backhands.
Pick: Wawrinka in 2
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Hyeon Chung vs. (9) Nikoloz Basilashvili
This time last year, Chung was busy reaching the Australian Open semifinals plus back-to-back quarters in Indian Wells and Miami. However, an 11-month run of injuries and poor play has left the South Korean at 50th in the world while putting him in danger of losing almost all of his ranking points upon the conclusion of the Miami Masters. Chung is just 1-3 this season and he has not played since falling to Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the Aussie Open second round.
Up first for the 22-year-old on Monday is Basilashvili, whom he has never faced. The 22nd-ranked Georgian enjoyed a breakout 2018 campaign and he won multiple matches in Doha (quarterfinals, lost to Novak Djokovic in three sets) and in Melbourne (third round). Although Basilashvili exited Sofia after just one outing, Rotterdam’s ninth seed is in much better form than Chung right now and should be able to dictate play with his big serve and forehand.
Pick: Basilashvili in 2
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WYG?