Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov Preview & Prediction | 2026 Paris Masters | First Round
by Rob Esteva ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
We have an interesting match in the first round in Paris as Denis Shapovalov takes on Karen Khachanov.
Ranking points: ATP 1000
Start date/time:
Venue: La Defense Arena, Paris, France
Surface: Indoor hard
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel
Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov ticket information
Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov prediction
Denis Shapovalov returned from injury in Basel last week and got a win under his belt against Switzerland’s Remy Bertola, before being eliminated by an in-form Taylor Fritz in the round of 16.
That was not overly surprising given Fritz’s form and the fact that Shapovalov had been out for a few weeks, and the 27-year-old Canadian can take some positives from his performances last week. He will hope to hit the ground running in Paris against a tough opponent in Karen Khachanov.
Khachanov was handed a brutal draw in Vienna last week as he came up against Carlos Alcaraz and duly lost 6-4, 7-6. The 30-year-old Russian won this tournament back in 2018, reached the quarter-finals in 2023 and the semi-finals in 2024, and he will be hoping to enjoy another good week in the French capital.
That will be easier said than done against Shapovalov, however, who is as game as they come, and it is Shapovalov who has won both of their previous meetings, albeit in the Davis Cup in 2019 and at Wimbledon in 2021. Both of those matches went the distance.
There is every chance this one could follow suit, and it would be no surprise to see it go all three sets. Our prediction is on total games and the overs, with a marginal preference for Shapovalov, but not enough to back him.
Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov tip: Over 21.5 total games
