There should be no shortage of entertainment for the fans at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires with two intriguing matches on the slate for semifinals day. Two Argentinians remain in contention, in opposite sides of the draw, and the crowd will surely give them their vocal backing. But who will book their place in Sunday’s final?
ATP Argentina Open Semifinal Predictions
Casper Ruud vs Juan Ignacio Londero
Head-to-head: Ruud 1-0 Londero
Both Casper Ruud and Juan Ignacio Londero arrive in the semifinals after impressive quarterfinal victories. Ruud beat the third seed Dusan Lajovic in straight-sets, with the Norwegian still yet to drop a set so far at the Argentina Open. Londero has not enjoyed quite such a straightforward path into the last four, having been taken the distance in his opening matches by Filip Horansky and sixth seed Laslo Djere. But he played some excellent tennis to beat his countryman Guido Pella, seeded second in Buenos Aires, 6-4 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
The extra time Londero has spent on court may well hurt his chances in this match, however. Particularly because he also reached the quarterfinals last week in Cordoba and remains in contention for the doubles title at the Argentina Open. He will have the support of the crowd to lift him and he will, as ever, compete with intensity. But Ruud has looked almost unstoppable this week and with the fresher legs and marginally bigger groundstrokes, should have enough to reach a second ATP final.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
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Diego Schwartzman vs Pedro Sousa
Head to head: Sousa 1-0 Schwartzman
Its not entirely certain that Diego Schwartzman will step onto court for this match after his marathon battle with Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the quarterfinals. That match went three and a half hours, with Schwartzman visibly struggling with a groin issue towards the end. Somehow, despite being severely hampered in his movement, he managed to dig out the win. But if does play, he will certainly not be at anything like full fitness.
What may give Schwartzman some hope is the inexperience of his opponent. Pedro Sousa in fact lost in the qualifying, but was given a reprieve as a lucky loser, one he has taken full advantage of, to become just the fifth Portuguese player to reach an ATP-level semifinal. But he has also played a great deal of tennis this week and may also be feeling it in his legs. Nonetheless, with the injury picked up by Schwartzman so debilitating, it is hard to see any outcome other than a Sousa victory should the match go ahead.
Prediction: Sousa in 3
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