TipResumen

PREVIEW

Two talented young players meet one another in the Second Round of the Canadian Masters and Felix Auger Aliassime is expected to receive plenty of support from his home crowd. That could give him the boost he needs to back up the very good win over Lucas Pouille although this is going to be a very difficult match too. It was a very good win for Auger Aliassime but it was one against the grain with what he has produced so far in 2018. He may have won 40% of points against the Pouille serve, which is an impressive number, but Auger Aliassime has had a much tougher time on the return of serve in 2018 on the hard courts compared to that match. Now he is going to have to face Daniil Medvedev who has a strong hold percentage on the hard courts in 2018 as he has made improvements in all aspects of his game. That is a really strong reason why Medvedev has a strong win-loss record on the hard courts and his three wins in Toronto to come through the Qualifiers and win a main draw match here will have given the Russian confidence. Auger Aliassime has served well but he will be challenged by Medvedev who has an impressive enough break percentage on the hard courts in 2018. The wins will have aided Medvedev and he has had a day of rest between his win over Jack Sock and this match which should help in fighting off any fatigue he may be feeling after the three matches in the Masters. We may need three sets to settle this match, but I give Medvedev the edge against the young Canadian who actually celebrates his 18th birthday today. Maybe that gives Auger Aliassime another boost to win a second match in a row on the ATP Tour for the first time in his career on the hard courts, but Medvedev has been the stronger performer so far in 2018 on this surface and can underline that with a victory.



PREDICTION

All credit to Felix Auger Aliassime for beating Lucas Pouille in the First Round, but this victory will be tough to back up on his birthday and I like Daniil Medvedev to edge him out.