It’s been an amazing week of high-quality tennis at the ATP Argentina Open and we are down to the final four competitors looking to raise the singles trophy. But who will reach the final in the Argentinian capital and who will fall short.
ATP Argentina Open Semifinal Predictions
Francisco Cerundolo vs Albert Ramos Vinolas
Head-to-head: first meeting
Francisco Cerundolo did well to come back from a set down to beat the veteran Pablo Andujar 1-6 6-3 6-2. Cerundolo’s return game was particularly impressive, with the Argentine winning 44% of return points and breaking Andujar’s serve four times. Cerundolo was excelled against the Spaniard’s first serve, winning 47% of his first-serve return points. Albert Ramos Vinolas, meanwhile, fended off a tough challenge from Sumit Nagal to win 4-6 6-2 7-5. It was a solid performance from Ramos Vinolas, who broke the Nagal serve four times.
This will be this pair’s first meeting. Ramos Vinolas’ match with Nagal was very physical and it’s not clear how much he has left in the tank. Cerundolo’s forehand was firing against Andujar and he could really hurt Ramos Vinolas with that wing if he can engage the left-handed Ramos Vinolas’ backhand in cross-court exchanges. It was also encouraging for Argentinian tennis fans to see how well the Cerundolo backhand held up.
Ramos Vinolas, in contrast, looked like he was starting to run out of steam against Nagal, before just managing to edge out the Indian. It is Cerundolo who has the biggest weapon on the court with his forehand and it should help him to win through to the final in what looks likely to be a close match.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3
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Miomir Kecmanovic vs Diego Schwartzman
Head-to-head: Schwartzman 1-0 Kecmanovic
Miomir Kecmanovic played excellent tennis to beat Laslo Djere in straight sets, 6-4 7-6(6). Kecmanovic, who has recently started working with David Nalbandian, saved seven of the nine break points he faced. He also played, for the most part, with good depth and consistency from the baseline. His counterpunching was also a strength in the match against his countryman, with Kecmanovic able to turn points around from far behind the baseline more than once.
Diego Schwartzman, meanwhile, found his second serve to be a strength in his 6-2 7-5 win over Jaume Munar. Schwartzman won a remarkable 92% of his second serve points, while Munar only won 25% of the points behind his second serve. The result was never in doubt. Schwartzman leads the head-to-head, having beaten Kecmanovic in straight sets in their only previous match, which came at the French Open last season.
Kecmanovic is always solid from the baseline, but it is hard to see where can he really hurt Schwartzman in this match. Schwartzman’s backhand was very sharp against Munar and, although Munar’s return is normally one of his strengths, Schwartzman wasn’t broken and only faced three break points. In short, Schwartzman is the better player and is much sharper than he was last week in Cordoba. Expect him to get the win here.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 2
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