TennisSection previews the 2021 Paris Masters as Casper Ruud takes on Alexander Bublik in the Round of 32 on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021.
Will Casper Ruud realize his dream of reaching the ATP Finals? Or will Alexander Bublik play gatecrasher on Tuesday? We preview a highly important second-round match from the 2021 Paris Masters which could mean a lot in the Race to Turin.
Casper Ruud is undoubtedly one of the ATP’s breakout stars of 2021. With five titles to his name (and possibly room for more before the season-end), he is getting closer to book his spot at the ATP Finals. Ruud might not even need to do it all himself to qualify for season-ending finale, but it is always good to be in charge of your own fate. He sits in 7th place and just 90 points ahead of Jannik Sinner who occupies the last remaining slot. Should the Norwegian advance to the final of the 2021 Paris Masters against all the odds, he will qualify for Turin regardless of what the chasing pack achieves. Ruud cannot rest on his laurels after a rude awakening in his quarterfinal defeat to Sinner in Vienna last week.
Ruud’s second-round opponent Alexander Bublik did not have the luxury of an opening round bye. The unseeded Kazakh opened his 2021 Paris Masters account with a comeback win over Dan Evans. Evans, who has been overtaken by Cameron Norrie as British No. 1 in the ATP rankings, succumbs to his fifth defeat in seven matches. Bublik was slow off the blocks, dropping the first set 6-2 in just half an hour. But he upped the ante in the second set, doubling his ace count and dropping just four points on his first serve. He secured a crucial break in the 11th game and served to level. In the third set, a similar pattern ensued. Bublik broke Evans’ serve in the 11th game as the Brit felt the scoreboard pressure.
Casper Ruud leads Alexander Bublik 2-0 in the head-to-head. One of those matches came during the early part of the season in which the Norwegian young gun won a quarterfinal at the Madrid Masters. Ruud has solidified his status as the leading light of the Next Gen project. Already a Top-10 player and rising steadily, he should be the favorite to win on Wednesday at the 2021 Paris Masters. His mammoth topspin forehand would be a problematic shot for Bublik to deal with. While Kazakh might try to change things up with his varied serving and craftiness, a lot is at stake for Ruud this week.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Casper Ruud in two tight sets.
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