Entering the Paris Masters in indifferent form, Alexei Popyrin faces three-time ATP Tour champion Matteo Berrettini, aiming to end his losing run against the Italian in Tuesday's first-round match.
The Australian has lost both encounters against the 28-year-old, whose recent involvement in Vienna saw him reach the last eight before exiting to eventual finalist Karen Khachanov.
Match preview
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Popyrin's form has been indifferent since a stunning first career victory over Novak Djokovic at the US Open.
The Australian entered the final Major of 2024 having claimed a first Masters 1000 in Canada, and defeating the Serbian star promised much for the rest of the year.
However, the world No. 24's form has dipped since losing to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, underscored by swift eliminations in Tokyo and Vienna, either side of an early exit in Shanghai at the hands of Grigor Dimitrov.
The Australian is 11-6 at ATP 1000 events heading into Paris, with six victories accrued in his unbeaten run at the Canadian tournament.
It remains to be seen which version of Popyrin turns up on Tuesday: the fearless hard-hitter who stunned a 24-time Grand Slam champion at Flushing Meadows or the one struggling for fluency on the court.
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Berrettini undoubtedly hopes to face off with the latter, keen to extend his 2-0 lead over the Australian and potentially secure a round-two match against fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.
The Italian reached the last eight in Vienna last week before losing to indoor specialist Khachanov in two sets, ending his four-match winning run against the Russian player.
Berrettini showed some of his best tennis in the previous week's event in Austria, with his three-set thriller against Tiafoe arguably the tournament's best.
Fresh from his commendable run at the ATP 500 event, the 28-year-old hopes to carry that form into a Masters 1000, keen to avoid another opening loss.
The 10-time tour-level champion is 1-4 in 1000 tournaments this year, with the sole success being a tight two-setter against Christopher O'Connell (7-6[9], 7-6[6]) in Shanghai, highlighting his struggles.
Having failed to win a match in previous appearances in Paris, the Italian hopes to snap that 0-2 run in Tuesday's tournament opener.
Head To Head
Vienna (2021) - Round of 32: Berrettini 7-6(3) 6-3 2019
US Open (2019) - Third round: Berrettini 6-4 6-4 6-7(3) 7-6(2)
Although Berrettini leads his head-to-head with Popyrin, the pair have not faced on the tour in three years, months before the Italian's rise to a career-best sixth.
Much has changed since that 2021 encounter in Vienna, with the 28-year-old still searching for his finest tennis since putting injury troubles behind him.
The Italian player enters the Masters event with three titles this year, the only player besides Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to claim as many or more tour-level titles in 2024.
We say: Berrettini to win in three sets
Popyrin's lack of momentum is evident in his 1-5 record in tour-level events heading into Tuesday. Thus, Berrettini is favoured to extend his 2-0 lead in their head-to-head and secure a second-round place against Medvedev.
