Richard Gasquet leads the H2H 5-0, and he is superiorly talented and far more consistent than Benoit Paire. However, his recent fitness struggles should give Paire some belief going into this contest.
Richard Gasquet, who ended his four-match losing run (mainly contributed by fitness issues) by making consecutive quarterfinal appearances at Monte Carlo (QF) and Marrakech (SF), has again failed in the recent two tournaments, losing to Lorenzo Sonego in Budapest (R16, R1 bye) and Dusan Lajovic in Madrid last week (R2).
The Frenchman’s ability to play a high-level of tennis is still intact as he proved with some good runs at Montpellier (F), Marrakech (SF) and Monte Carlo (QF). But constant fitness issues over the last ten months or so is not allowing him to produce such performances on a consistent basis.
Former world #7 Richard Gasquet is a former semifinalist here (2011), and he also made the quarterfinal in the following season (2012). Only once he faced a first-round exit from Rome in his previous nine appearances when he lost to Luis Horna in 2008.
Benoit Paire suffered his second consecutive second-round exit when he lost to Denis Shapovalov in Madrid (R2) last week. Prior to that, he lost to Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round of ATP Estoril.
It was still an improved result for Paire considering he faced two first-round exits in consecutive weeks at Marrakech and Monte Carlo.
The mercurial Frenchman made an excellent and surprisingly consistent start to the new season by progressing to the semifinal at Pune and Sydney and quarterfinal at Montpellier. However, poor performances in the last two months have undone all those good works.
Apart from making the semifinal of Rome Masters on his debut appearance in 2013 (lost to Roger Federer), Benoit Paire has failed to progress beyond the second round in the next three visits. On the positive side, he never lost a first-round match here (four appearances).
Tennis Prediction: Richard Gasquet
Odds: 1.50
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