Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Paris match.
For the third consecutive year, Francisco Cerundolo has reached the third round in Paris, but each time he has fallen to a top-tier opponent. This time, the Argentine faces world number two Jannik Sinner, who has yet to regain full confidence after two losses to Carlos Alcaraz at the Grand Slams and a withdrawal in Shanghai.
Francisco Cerundolo
Ranked 21st, Cerundolo has had a solid season, reaching the final in Buenos Aires and the semi-finals in Bastad, Munich, and Madrid — all on clay. On hard courts, he made quarter-finals in Miami and Indian Wells but remains without a title. The Argentine relies on counter-attacking play, thriving in long rallies. In Paris, he beat Miomir Kecmanovic (7:5, 1:6, 7:6) through patience and consistency, though his record against top-three opponents stands at just two wins in nine matches over the past two seasons.
Jannik Sinner
Ranked second, Sinner’s form has dipped since his defeats to Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati and at the US Open, followed by his retirement in Shanghai. He remains dominant against players outside the top 20 (78 wins in 80 matches), but lately his performances have lacked conviction. In his last eleven matches, Sinner has covered a -6.5 game handicap only twice. Even in Paris, against Zizou Bergs, he failed to hit a single ace and committed two double faults.
Francisco Cerundolo vs Jannik Sinner Prediction
Cerundolo’s resilience on indoor courts and Sinner’s post-injury inconsistency suggest a closer contest than the odds imply. The Argentine should be able to keep the scoreline competitive.
