World No. 49 Benoit Paire will take on World No. 130 Jozef Kovalik in the round of 32 of 2021 Lausanne Open on July 19.
Benoit Paire vs Jozef Kovalik: Match Details
| Tournament | Swiss Open 2021 |
| Match | Benoit Paire vs Jozef Kovalik |
| Round | First Round |
| Date | 19 July 2021 |
| Prize Money | $6,393 |
| Venue | Gstaad, Switzerland |
| Surface | Clay Court |
Benoit Paire vs Jozef Kovalik: Preview
Paire comes into this match after making the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Open last week. The Frenchman put up a decent show in Germany, before he was downed by Federico Delbonis in three sets. It has been a tough season for Paire on the ATP tour, which has been marred by early round exits and controversies. That said, he loves playing on the clay and has the game to beat the top players on his day. With only five wins out of 19 outings till now, the 32-year-would be keen to better his performance this week in Gstaad.
On the other hand, the Slovakian player comes into this match, having played most of his matches on the dirt this season. Although Kovalik has been playing the ATP Challengers in comparison to the higher ranked tournaments, he has won 19 matches and lost 18 on the clay in 2021. He was also seen in Hamburg last week, where he lost in the opening qualifier itself. It is also to be noted that he is yet to beat a big name for the year. Therefore, it is tough to see him making any impact in Gstaasd this week.
Benoit Paire vs Jozef Kovalik: Head to Head
These two have never met on the ATP tour.
Benoit Paire vs Jozef Kovalik: Prediction
The Frechman will enter this contest as the favourite, given his experience and shot making ability. However, it will be interesting to see how he handles his temperament on the court. If Paire can come up with a steady game, this could be over in two sets.
Match Prediction: Benoit Paire should win in two sets.
