Day 3 in Buenos Aires sees the first half of second round matches get underway. Three seeds are in action on day 3: Casper Ruud, Borna Coric, and Dusan Lajovic. All three of those seeded players are playing their first matches on clay all year in an attempt to adjust to the surface. Pedro Sousa also takes the court early in the day, making the most of his Lucky Loser status by making the second round.
ATP Buenos Aires Day 3 Predictions
Casper Ruud vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head to head: 2-1 Ruud
The 21-year-old Norwegian Ruud is very talented and that was on display in the first round, beating Pablo Andujar 6-2 6-3. Carballes Baena has grinded on the tour for years and recently broke into the top 100. The Spaniard is best on clay but has struggled over the last several months to put together several match wins. Ruud is playing his first tournament back on the clay and his great movement as well as his shot selection are reasons for his successes on the surface. Carballes Baena won their last meeting but they have not met since 2018. Tomorrow will be a different story with Ruud earning a victory by hitting enough winners on the big points.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
Dusan Lajovic vs Pedro Martinez
Head to head: first meeting
Lajovic had a great start to 2020, winning the ATP Cup for Serbia alongside Novak Djokovic. This gives him confidence for the rest of the year, following an excellent 2019 where he won his first title and made his first Masters 1000 final in Monte Carlo. Martinez is a talented young Spanish player who has qualified and won his first round match each of the past two weeks. Lajovic peaked late and will like to make the most of his 2020 season while he is still in his prime, and he proved last year his skill on clay. He will have to make the most of his serve to hold off the energetic Martinez, but will be able to do enough and is the better player.
Prediction: Lajovic in 2
Jozef Kovalik vs Pedro Sousa
Head to head: first meeting
Sousa is a challenger tour journeyman who after losing in qualifying for the second straight week made the main draw as a lucky loser and battled to a first round win. Kovalik is outside the top 100 but trying to get over that hump with a good run of recent form. He is currently riding an eight match win streak on clay, winning the Maia Challenger at the end of last year and going through qualifying this week. Kovalik both has more potential and is in better form, and he has the slight edge in this match.
Prediction: Kovalik in 3
Borna Coric vs Thiago Monteiro
Head to head: first meeting
This match has real upset potential. Coric, the #4 seed in Buenos Aires, has won just one of his last ten, albeit with all matches against good players. Monteiro is a talented clay court player with a solid game who has been plagued by inconsistency throughout his career. Coric did not play last week, so this will be his first match on clay in the new year. While Coric’s game is adaptable on any surface, Montiero will put him to the test by making him battle and will be a tough opponent for his first match back on the surface. Montiero will edge Coric in three tight sets
Prediction: Monteiro in 3
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