Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Paris match.
Cerúndolo, who comfortably passed Damir Džumhur, will aim to repeat his success against Kecmanović, who struggled to edge out Kovacevic.
Francisco Cerúndolo
Ranked No. 21 ATP, Cerúndolo is having a modest season with a 37-23 win–loss record, but he has looked solid on indoor hard courts, winning 12 of his last 20 matches over the past three years. In Paris, the Argentine dispatched Damir Džumhur 6:3, 6:3, producing more unforced errors than winners (29 to 27) yet still conceding only six games. Against Miomir Kecmanović, Cerúndolo leads the head-to-head 2-0; though both previous meetings went to three sets, he covered the -3.5 game handicap each time.
Miomir Kecmanović
Ranked No. 53 ATP, Kecmanović battled past Aleksandar Kovacevic (6:4, 1:6, 7:6) in a tight contest, playing patiently and forcing errors from his opponent. However, the American handed him plenty of help — 10 double faults and just 54% of first serves in. The Serb’s form remains poor: since mid-July, he has gone past the second round only once in nine tournaments. Moreover, his indoor record is negative (31-34), confirming this as his weakest surface.
Francisco Cerúndolo vs Miomir Kecmanović Prediction
Cerúndolo is simply the better player right now and should progress comfortably. Kecmanović barely survived his opening match, and against the Argentine’s consistency and baseline power, he is unlikely to hold out.
