Welcome to the one and only ATP Andalucia Open in Marbella, Spain. Day 1 of this event kicks off on Monday. The tournament is a one-year innovation on the calendar as we are still adjusting to a pandemic-altered season. Marabella usually hosts a Challenger event (it did last week), but this year it adds an ATP 250 tournament as well.
ATP Marbella Day 1 Predictions
Ricardas Berankis vs Lucas Pouille
A few years ago, this would have been an easier match to predict. Pouille was rising as a potential serious contender (not elite, but a threat to win 250-level events) while Berankis was an inconsistent journeyman. That still applies to Berankis, but he seems more consistent now while Pouille has fallen off. I like the Frenchman in this, but this match really could go either way.
Prediction: Pouille in 3
Holger Rune vs Soonwoo Kwon
Rune is an interesting wild card here, but it’s not undeserved. The 17-year-old Norwegian has been playing very well so far in 2021, reaching three Futures finals and the quarterfinals in Cordoba last month. He hasn’t beaten a player of Kwon’s caliber during this run (Benoit Paire was awful in their match in Cordoba), but I like his run to continue on the clay.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Federico Delbonis
This should be a good match. Delbonis is seeded while Carballes Baena isn’t, but they’re both ranked around the fringe of the top 100 and they both are fine on clay. Delbonis has the higher potential, but it hasn’t been seen in a while. Don’t be surprised if the Spaniard pulls the “upset,” though he hasn’t been playing at his best recently either.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in 3
Norbert Gombos vs Juan Ignacio Londero
Londero has not quite been able to show the expected rise after he won in Cordoba two years ago. Still, he likes the clay, and he is playing decent tennis on this surface now. Londero should be more comfortable here than Gombos, who is rising as a solid player but not yet as consistent on the clay as Londero.
Prediction: Londero in 2
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