This year’s ATP 500 event in Rio has produced some of the most surprising results I’ve ever seen in a single event. With all the seeded players being knocked out in the opening two rounds, both of today’s finalists have recorded remarkable results to reach the final. Here is my prediction for today’s title match.
2019 Rio Open Final Prediction
Felix Auger Aliassime vs Laslo Djere
This is undoubtedly the biggest match of each player’s careers so far, and a great opportunity for each to win an ATP 500 event, as well as gain vital ranking points. In the case of the young Canadian, if he gets the win today, he will enter the World’s top 100 and will be all the way in the World’s top 40, which would be a remarkable achievement. At 18 years old, the Canadian has rarely been talked about in the NextGen group of players, with the likes of Alex De Minaur and Stefanos Tsitsipas overshadowing him. The Canadian deliberately played a lot of clay court tennis last year and that work has paid off, with him recording brilliant wins over the likes of Fabio Fognini and Pablo Cuevas. However, todays match against Laslo Djere promises to be a tough one.
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The Serbian has been playing some inspired tennis of his own this week, from beating the top seed Dominic Thiem in the opening round in straight sets and recording to impressive win against the experienced Slovenian Aljaz Bedene. After his semifinal win, Djere was understandably emotional, after recently losing both of his parents to cancer. This is the first meeting between the pair and this is a very tough match to predict, with only fourteen spots between the players in the rankings. With both players going for their first ATP title, there will be immense pressure on both men. Djere is five years older than the Canadian and has more experience at tour level. However, youth can outweigh experience, and the Canadian has more firepower in his shot making. There will be slightly more pressure on Djere because of his experience and I predict a close three setter with the Canadian taking the title.
Prediction: Auger Aliassime in 3
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