The big guns get there Paris Masters campaigns underway today and top-seed Djokovic will play veteran for the fourth time and the world number one leads the head-to-head 3-0 so should progress without too much drama. Second seed Andy Murray starts against veteran Verdasco and leads the head-to-head 11-2, so should progress as Verdasco’s last win came back in 2009 at the Australian Open, but the score-line could be close as their previous four matches would have landed the over games line.
Third seed tan Wawrinka (advised 16/1) gets his campaign underway against qualifier Struff, who he’s never played before, fifth seed Nishikori start against Troicki and the Japanese star leads the head-to-head 5-1 and should progress without too much drama. Sixth seed Thiem faces the in-form Sock and the young Austrian leads the head-to-head 2-0, but his form has been disappointing of late and this tie could easily go either way.
Eighth seed Goffin gets his campaign underway against veteran Mahut and if there recent encounter at Metz is anything to go by backing the Over Games line should return a profit. Basel winner and ninth seed Cilic gets his campaign underway against Karlovic and with the head-to-head standing at 2-2 and Cilic likely to be vulnerable after his exploits last week its worth opposing him from a match betting or trading perspective.
Tenth seed Bautista-Agut (advised 66/1) gets his campaign underway against veteran Simon today and Simon leads the head-to-head 3-1 with their last meeting coming back in 2014. Vienna finalist and 11th seed Tsonga starts faces Ramos-Vinolas for the second time in under a week after beating him for the fifth time in a row at Vienna. The French number two leads the head-to-head 5-0 and unless fatigue plays a factor the best Ramos-Vinolas can hope for I think is winning a set.
In addition to Mahut, Simon and Tsonga, Pouille (advised 80/1) seeded 13 will also hopefully benefit from home support today, as he did when winning the title in Metz recently. He faces veteran Lopez today, who beat him at Vienna last week 6-4 2-6 7-5, but I expect Pouille to turn the tables this time in front of his own fans. Veteran Ferrer seeded 15 and Cuevas seeded 16 both have comprehensive winning head-to-head records against their respective opponents Isner (7-1) and Lorenzi (4-0) today, and both can be backed in a Double at over 11/4, which appeals.
