Paris Masters: Halys and Rinderknech through, Kouame swept aside in round one

Halys finally wins a round in Paris

Quentin Halys had never won a match at the Paris Masters. He has now: 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 against Arthur Fery, a first set settled in a tie-break that went to 8-6 and a second taken in the twelfth game. Our preview backed Halys to win at 1.72 with Bet365; the pick landed, and the scoreline was as tight as the price suggested.

Frances Tiafoe, world No. 8, waits on Wednesday: 1.73 with Unibet for the American, 2.25 with Bwin ES for Halys, Tuesday afternoon prices. Halys played 25 games against Fery, while Tiafoe has been off court since 28 October in Vienna. The freshness favours the American; the Frenchman’s serve, 85% of service games won this season, keeps the gap small.

Rinderknech ends four straight defeats, Kouame swept

On centre court, Arthur Rinderknech came close to the exit: a set given away 3-6, then a Francisco Cerundolo serving for the match at 5-4 in the second. The tie-break flipped it 7-2, and the Argentine retired with back pain early in the third set at 2-0. Rinderknech stops a run of four defeats without finishing the job himself; we had read this match and found no price worth taking. Mattia Bellucci waits on Wednesday at 1.75 with Unibet against 2.20 with Betway: the Italian came through qualifying here and has won nine of his last ten matches, including Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 on Monday.

Moise Kouame, 17, surrendered in an hour: 6-3, 6-1 against Nuno Borges, less than 48 hours after lifting the Brest Challenger title on Sunday evening. The Portuguese, a lucky loser after Davidovich Fokina’s withdrawal, left the Brest winner only four games. The match we had read pitched the Frenchman against the Spaniard; the withdrawal changed the opponent, not the rhythm of a week that began in Brest and went on to Paris.

Both Wednesday ties, Halys-Tiafoe and Bellucci-Rinderknech, get their full preview here before play begins. 18+. Only bet what you can afford to lose.