There are eight matches on the Tuesday schedule of the 2021 ATP Serbia Open in Belgrade. Which one of the remaining first-round clashes excites you the most? Who will make it a step further into the draw? We also predict the day’s other four matches in a separate article.
ATP Belgrade Day 2 Predictions
Arthur Rinderknech vs Juan Ignacio Londero
Head-to-head: First meeting
Juan Ignacio Londero would usually be the favorite in this matchup on clay but the Argentinian has been in dreadful form this season. With just one victory in eight matches, he will be desperately looking for a deep run in the clay court season. Arthur Rinderknech had a very solid qualifying campaign and has been able to use his all-court abilities even in slower conditions. He has to watch out for Londero forcing him into too many prolonged baseline rallies and exposing his weaker backhand wing though.
Prediction: Rinderknech in 3
Pablo Cuevas vs Emil Ruusuvuori
Head-to-head: First meeting
Emil Ruusuvuori’s power baseline game is definitely at its weakest on clay but that doesn’t mean he won’t have a shot at Pablo Cuevas here. The Uruguayan veteran hasn’t played since the Australian Open and has been steadily declining over the past few seasons. How much of the good stuff does he still have left? The experience and smart usage of angles should help with the clay helping to mitigate the effects of the young Finn’s power.
Prediction: Cuevas in 3
Facundo Bagnis vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Miomir Kecmanovic has recently started working with David Nalbandian but the effects of that partnership haven’t been visible instantly. In fact, the Serbian only won consecutive matches twice in his last five events. Meanwhile, Facundo Bagnis had a wonderful Golden Swing and should be playing with a lot of confidence. He’s also played five matches in Belgrade already, making it through the qualifying draw and reaching the quarterfinals at the Challenger event. This is definitely a potential banana skin for Kecmanovic, who has been looking quite lost of late.
Prediction: Bagnis in 3
Francisco Cerundolo vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-head: First meeting
Alexei Popyrin had a good run at Monte Carlo, playing through the qualifying campaign all the way to the second round. Fransisco Cerundolo made a big main tour breakthrough by finishing runner-up to Diego Schwartzman at Buenos Aires last month but the new expectations and additional pressure seemed to have taken its toll on the Argentinian. While he couldn’t win a round in his next three events, Cerundolo looks back in full flight with two great wins in qualifying here. If the 22-year-old is playing his best tennis and hitting the forehand with the aggression he’s made us used to, Popyrin shouldn’t present that much of a challenge.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
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