Taylor Harry Fritz vs. Gilles Simon Prediction: Can the Home Support Lift Simon?

On Wednesday, November 2, world number 11 Taylor Fritz will face 188th-ranked Gilles Simon in the second round of the 2022 Paris Masters.

Fritz, who won the Japan Open after defeating Covid-19, did not survive long at the Vienna Open last week. He had lost in the second round to eventual finalist Denis Shapovalov there, but has begun strongly here in Paris.

In the opening, the American defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-5, 6-2 to get one step closer to repeating his quarterfinal appearance in this competition last season.

Fritz played for an hour and a half and came back from a 2-4 deficit in the opening set to win. He broke back twice in the first set, then overcame a loss of service after winning a break in the second set to win four games in a row and go to the second round.

He will now play Simon, 37, in the second round.

According to a prior declaration, Simon will be playing his final ATP tournament this week. And, behind a set and 3-5 in the second against Andy Murray, it appeared that his first-round encounter might be his last.

Instead, Simon rallied from that position to defeat the Brit 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and book his place in the second round against Fritz.

Simon required two hours and 52 minutes to come back from the dead and win, helped by some home support and Murray's mounting irritation.

Simon, a semifinalist in this competition in 2012, will now hope against hope that he can conclude his career on a positive note by defeating the world number 11. Can he dare to fantasize?

Fritz is a staggering 1/6 to win this and 1/2 to win it in straight sets, which isn't surprising. However, one of the sets will be a combat one.

• Total Under 20 for 1.88
• Handiсap Gilles Simon (+5) for 2.01
• Individual Total 1 Under 12.5 for 1.8