Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Popyrin in 4 sets.Oh, what a lovely day for tennis, isn't it? You can practically smell the expressions of self-doubt wafting off our competitors as we take a look at the match suiting up between Alexei Popyrin and Tommy Paul. Tom's the favorite according to the bookies, but does he have what it takes to live up to the hype?
Digging into their past performances for some clues, Tommy had a bite at the cherry when these two last met, taking home the victory. But that isn't the whole story, is it? One notable fact here is that Tommy's journey so far at Roland Garros has been filled with more potholes than a backcountry road, taking his battles to 5 setter twice before finally entering the Round of 16, crawling over the finish line, exhausted. It's not exactly a showcase of overwhelming dominance.
On the other hand, Popyrin has been dispatching his competitors with the brutal efficiency of automated machinery in a dystopian novel. He’s been playing some sublime tennis, slamming doors shut on the opposition without dropping a single set this tournament. Perhaps, he's remembering the time when Tommy did him wrong in the past and he's ready to even the odds.
So get this, if we look at their seeds, Tommy's high standing suggests he's got some serious game. But, I declare, the tournament is not won by paperwork and in this case, the paper suggests Paul is a shoo-in. But, it’s worth noting, that tennis is not played on paper, is it now? Popyrin may have lower seeding, but, his current streak of straight set wins suggests that he is a force to reckon with on the clay court.
We're in for a bit of a surprise here, aren’t we? This gig isn't rocket science folks, but, I like a good plot twist, don't you?
Albert’s Prediction: Popyrin in 4 sets.