Paris Masters 2022: Casper Ruud vs. Richard Gasquet Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Paris Masters as Casper Ruud takes on Richard Gasquet in the second round on Tuesday, November 1st, 2022.

Casper Ruud could have his hands full when he takes on Richard Gasquet at the Paris Masters. The third-seeded Norwegian arrives in Bercy on the back of a three-match winless streak. Could he end his winning drought against the French one hander?

Since the conclusion of the US Open, it hasn’t been a pleasantreturn to action for Norway’s Casper Ruud. The 23-year-old has set the bar so high for himself, he cannot reach it. With three defeats on the trot, Ruud arrives at the Paris Masters in the worst possible form, results-wise. Losing to Jaume Munar on a hard court and a 37-year-old Wawrinka in Basel was not the kind of tonic he needed heading into the final two weeks of the tennis season. Unless there is a huge upturn in form, Ruud’s season might be done and dusted even before taking the plane to Turin. Having received a bye in the first round, Ruud will cross swords with Richard Gasquet in the Round of 32.

Richard Gasquet will sense blood here. The French one hander knows Ruud is a wounded prey right now. And he will fancy his chances of inflicting more damage when they square off on Tuesday at the Paris Masters. Gasquet is looking to build on his semifinal showing in Antwerp. And he was in fine fettle on Monday as he knocked out Alex Molcan in straight sets.

Richard Gasquet leads Casper Ruud 1-0 in their head-to-head. The Frenchman won the pair’s only meeting in Bastad four years ago. Ruud is a different player these days having risen rapidly in the rankings. While the formbook suggests Ruud might have a hard time in navigating his way into the third round, Gasquet’s shots do not have abundant power to trouble him. I think over the course of three sets, you would expect the Norwegian to get the job done.