Sofia R2 previews and predictions: Millman vs. Simon, Auger-Aliassime vs. Caruso

Paris doubles champion Felix Auger-Aliassime will kick off his Sofia campaign on Wednesday against Salvatore Caruso. John Millman and Gilles Simon won their first-round matches easily and will now go head-to-head.

Salvatore Caruso vs. (2) Felix Auger-Aliassime

Auger-Aliassime is putting the finishing touches on an up-and-down 2020 season at this week’s Sofia Open. The 20-year-old Canadian has reached finals in Rotterdam, Marseille, and Cologne, but a first-ever ATP singles title remains elusive (he is 0-6 lifetime in finals). However, Auger-Aliassime was successful in his first doubles this past Sunday–when he and Hubert Hurkacz triumphed at the Paris Masters after saving five championship points against Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares.

That should give the world No. 21 some momentum heading into Sofia, where Caruso is his second-round opponent. The 82nd-ranked Italian has earned six of his 13 career ATP-level match wins this year, including a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Bulgarian wild card Dimitar Kuzmanov on Monday. That ended a streak of four consecutive first-round losses in the main draws of ATP events for Caruso. This match will probably be a bit of a roller-coaster ride, but Auger-Aliassime should have too much firepower on an indoor hard court.

Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 3

(6) John Millman vs. (Q) Gilles Simon

Millman and Simon will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their long careers on Wednesday. Their only previous encounter came last season on the hard courts of Sydney, where Simon prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3). That was a rather predictable outcome for a showdown between two baseline grinders who have similar styles and are both willing to stay on the court all day long.

With both veterans in decent enough form right now, another similar contest should be expected in Sofia. Millman just captured his first ATP title two weeks ago in Nur-Sultan; Simon reached the quarterfinal in Cologne that same week before falling in three sets to a red-hot Jannik Sinner. The 35-year-old Frenchman may be slightly more motivated this week (clearly he is, having already won three matches), as Millman–who lost his first Paris match in easy straight sets to Miomir Kecmanovic–is surely still riding the high from his Nur-Sultan victory and could be looking forward to the offseason.

Pick: Simon in 3