Valentin Vacherot, the surprise champion from the Shanghai Masters, has continued his impressive performance, showcasing his talent in a first-round match against Jiri Lehecka in Paris. Vacherot dominated the match with a near-perfect display, a performance that even took him by surprise. This victory sets the stage for a rematch against his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, with whom he faced off in the Shanghai final earlier this month.
In their previous encounter, Vacherot emerged as the stronger player after losing the first set to Rinderknech, claiming victory by winning the second and third sets convincingly. Throughout that match, Vacherot leveraged his ability to attack Rinderknech’s second serve effectively. He created 14 break points compared to Rinderknech’s one, securing three breaks himself and winning an impressive 74% of points behind his second serve, while Rinderknech managed only 54%.
Contrastingly, Rinderknech faced challenges in his first-round match in Paris against Fabian Marozsan, where he won just 47% of his second-serve points despite taking the match to two tie-breaks. This trend highlights the differences in their performances as Vacherot continued to excel, winning 70% of points on Lehecka’s second serve.
Moving to the match between Daniel Altmaier and Casper Ruud, Altmaier has shown promise after an impressive victory against Marcos Giron. Meanwhile, Ruud is coming off a series of injury issues, having retired in both Shanghai and Basel. Although he performed well in Stockholm, his history in indoor conditions isn’t particularly strong, as reflected in his prior results at the Bercy venue, where he holds a 5-6 record.
Ruud’s current positioning in the pursuit of a spot in the season-ending ATP Finals should motivate him significantly this week. While there are concerns about his fitness, it’s unlikely he will withdraw from the competition. Altmaier’s odds at 5/2 present an intriguing opportunity for the more adventurous bettor.
In the evening session, Gabriel Diallo will take on Alex de Minaur. Diallo demonstrated solid form by serving impressively against Tallon Griekspoor and appears well-suited to the indoor conditions of the La Defense Arena. However, he will face a formidable opponent in de Minaur, one of the best returners on the tour, who previously broke Diallo several times in their last meeting in Toronto.
With Diallo showing improvement, this match could be closely contested. Betting on over 21.5 games at 8/11 might hold potential, but the uncertainty surrounding the outcome makes it a cautious choice.
As the competition progresses, Vacherot’s streak and Altmaier’s promising chances against Ruud could lead to some thrilling matchups in the coming rounds. The atmosphere in Paris is electric, and the players’ performances are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.