The ATP Rolex Paris Masters is in full swing. Initial matches of the tournament have given a great teaser of the excitement that is yet to come. Many players have already been eliminated, and the better players are advancing forward. As the days continue, fans will get to see great clashes. We have one of our first great bouts just a few hours away, with Stanislas Wawrinka facing off against Dominic Thiem.

Both players are fighting for the chance to move on to round three. The two players have had a similar trajectory this season, and they will bring their entire being to make sure they advance. But only one man will advance, and the scales tip in a familiar favor.

Stanislas Wawrinka vs Dominic Thiem: Preview

The Swiss player is not in the prime of his career anymore. Regardless of the fact, he continues playing with the utmost passion. This season has not been kind to him, and many younger colleagues on the Tour have outplayed him. Heading into Paris, Wawrinka is coming off of several early-round exits. His best result has been in the Croatia Open, where he reached the final. He also steps into the bout with Thiem after getting a walkover.

Dominic Thiem’s season has not fared much better than his Swiss opponent’s. The 2020 US Open champion has not managed to go further than Round 2 in Masters or Grand Slams in recent times. But on the positive side, he seems to have a much better grasp of his abilities. He played well in the qualifiers and achieved a dominant victory in Round 1 of the Paris Masters.

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Wawrinka vs Thiem: Head-to-Head

The two players have met each other four times in total. They first played against each other in the Madrid Open in 2014, where the victor was Dominic Thiem, who came back after dropping the first set 1-6. Their next bout would be in the Paris Masters of the same year; Wawrinka managed to take revenge and beat the Austrian player in two sets.

They would play against each other two more times. In 2015, they met in Rome, where Wawrinka was once again the victor. They wouldn’t play each other for two more years and fought their next battle in the 2017 Indian Wells, which Wawrinka won in a three-set thriller. Now, their bout in the Paris Masters would be the first time they face each other in 6 years.

Prediction: Thiem to win in three sets

While both players have not had great matches leading up to their bout, Thiem has managed to control his game and turned his luck around. Thiem has had a great run since the qualifiers and is likely to eliminate Wawrinka in three sets to move on to round three. Their rivalry will continue in the city of love, and the Austrian has a higher probability of getting a step ahead in their head-to-head.

What do you think of the injury-prone Dominic Thiem? Do you believe he will cruise deep into the tournament, or will Stan the Man inch one past him? Let us know in the comments section below!

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