Corentin Moutet and Jenson Brooksby will wrap up first-round action at the Toronto Masters on Tuesday. Most of the order of play features the second round, in which Holger Rune faces Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Corentin Moutet vs. (PR) Jenson Brooksby
Moutet is positively surging right now. The 46th-ranked Frenchman finished runner-up on the grass courts of Mallorca and is coming off a semifinal result in Washington, D.C. He has advanced at least one round in seven consecutive main-draw appearances at the ATP level, last losing an opening match at the Madrid Masters in late April.
Up first for Moutet at the National Bank Open on Tuesday is Brooksby, whom he has never faced. The 102nd-ranked American also posted a runner-up finish on grass (Eastbourne), so he should be playing with some confidence despite losing right away in Washington, D.C. at the hands of Yoshihito Nishioka. This should be a fascinating matchup between two guys who don’t possess a ton of firepower but can do all kinds of unique things with the tennis ball. The edge goes to Brooksby simply because Moutet is coming off a long, grueling week in the district.
Pick: Brooksby in 3
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs. (5) Holger Rune
Rune is a question mark heading into the Toronto Masters because he withdrew from Washington, D.C. due to a back injury. The fifth-seeded Dane has not won a match since the Queen’s Club second round. He lost in the quarterfinals to Roberto Bautista Agut and then squandered a two-set lead over Nicolas Jarry at Wimbledon.
A bad draw against Mpetshi Perricard may add to Rune’s woes. The 6’8” Frenchman already has a match under his belt this week, having defeated Shintaro Mochizuki 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday. Mochizuki may not be the toughest of opponents, but breaking serve three times against anyone is encouraging for Mpetshi Perricard. Rune cannot be trusted given his lack of form and potential physical issues, so an upset for the world No. 43 would not be surprising.
Pick: Mpetshi Perricard in 3
WWW?
moutet in 3 rune in 3
Normally, maybe some possible fatigue from Moutet would be a factor, but this is Moutet we are talking about, far from your average player, his lefty game looks to cause Brooksby enough problems to go through, also leftiness helps mitigate fatigue, Moutet in 3, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(9).
Correction Rune did not play Washington due to back pain, not an injury, though yes there are questions over how his back is feeling now, though it seems he’s fine enough since he’s playing, MP blasting serves at him all day in the blazing hot sun will likely test it well, Rune has only played one match since Queen’s at Wimby, MP got him last year in Basel indoors, so MP has that going for him even though his overall form lately has been poor, MP in 3, 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(8).
Brooksby in three for the tiredness reason.
I had Rune , but on reflection, Perricard in three, slightly more faith in him which isn’t much
Results are Moutet 6-2, 6-1 and and Rune 7-6(7), 6-3.