Tokyo R1 previews and picks: Dimitrov vs. Paire, Verdasco vs. Baghdatis

A pair of intriguing first-round showdowns are on the Tuesday schedule in Tokyo. Grigor Dimitrov is going up against Benoit Paire and Fernando Verdasco is taking on Marcos Baghdatis.

(8) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Benoit Paire

Dimitrov put himself into an alternate spot for the 2014 World Tour Finals and he was a trendy pick to qualify for the year-end championship this time around, but the season has not gone according to plan. In fact, it has been so disappointing that he parted ways with coach Roger Rasheed–in addition to girlfriend Maria Sharapova–after Wimbledon. The Bulgarian’s partnership with new coach Franco Davin got off to an unspectacular start last week in Kuala Lumpur, where he beat Joao Sousa then lost to Benjamin Becker. Dimitrov is 28-18 for his 2015 campaign and struggling down at 21st in the world.

Up first for the No. 8 seed on Tuesday at the Rakuten Japan Open is a third career ATP-level meeting with Paire. The head-to-head series stands at 1-1, with Paire prevailing 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 at the 2012 U.S. Open before Dimitrov scored a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory on the indoor hard courts of Stockholm in 2013. Paire recently turned in his best-ever Grand Slam performance by reaching the last 16 at the U.S. Open, where he saved two match points to upset Kei Nishikori during first-round action. The 32nd-ranked Frenchman is looking to bounce back from a St. Petersburg retirement last month. That was reportedly due to nothing more than a headache, so Paire should be fine for this one. That being said, Dimitrov always plays strong defense despite his inconsistency and he should be able to make his opponent hit enough forehands to make the difference.

Pick: Dimitrov in 3

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Marcos Baghdatis vs. Fernando Verdasco

Verdasco and Baghdatis will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers and for the first time in more than five years on Tuesday. Their only previous encounter came at the 2010 Washington, D.C. event, where Baghdatis advanced to the semifinals with a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory.

Both veterans are no longer the top 10 players that they once were, but they are still relevant into their 30s. Verdasco is 23-21 for the season and registers at 41st in the rankings. The Spaniard lost in the second round of the U.S. Open to Milos Raonic and in the Metz second round to Gilles Muller. At No. 49 in the world, Baghdatis is also coming off consecutive second-round exits. The Cypriot fell to Tommy Robredo in St. Petersburg and to Vasek Pospisil in Kuala Lumpur. This is just about as even as a matchup can get, but Baghdatis is the pick based on slight edges in current form and on the indoor surface.

Pick: Baghdatis in 3

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