With eight first round matches scheduled at the ATP Adelaide Open, it promises to be an entertaining day. Who do you think will advance to the second round? We also predict the day’s four other matches in a separate article.
ATP Adelaide Day 2 Predictions
Holger Rune vs Corentin Moutet
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Holger Rune, the young Danish sensation, shot to fame when he took a set off Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open 2021. However, he had to go back to playing Challengers, due to the lack of ATP points–and according to him, wild cards–needed for direct qualification in ATP events. Rune won the title at the Bergamo challenger in November, and made his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals. Corentin Moutet on the other hand, played only one tournament after the US Open, where he lost in the second round. Even earlier in the season, Moutet never really got going in any tournament. Looking at the way Rune came through the qualifying rounds, he should win this easily.
Prediction: Rune in 2
Lorenzo Musetti vs Taro Daniel
Head-to-head: Musetti 1-0 Daniel
After his spectacular performance at the French Open, where he made the fourth round, and took two sets off Novak Djokovic, Lorenzo Musetti entered a very bad patch. He then lost five matches on the trot, till the US Open. Though he won a few matches, before the season ended, his confidence has taken a very bad hit. A good performance here will give Musetti a boost to play like the big match player he is. Taro Daniel showed a few good performances in clay challengers mid-season, but since then hasn’t performed very well. Daniel qualified for main draw after beating the qualifying first seed Oscar Otte. It seems unlikely that he can defeat Musetti though.
Prediction: Musetti in 2
Gianluca Mager vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-head: Mager 0-1 Cerundolo
Gianluca Mager had a decent showing last season. He made four ATP quarterfinals, and his points rose steadily. It is safe to say that he is in the best form of his career, ranked #62, which is an all time high. Francisco Cerundolo had a wonderful season on the challenger circuit last year. In the second half of the season, his consistency was so high, that he made at least the quarterfinals at almost every event he played. Cerundolo qualified for the main draw without dropping a set. However, his clay prowess is not tested fully, and he might not be able to overcome Mager.
Prediction: Mager in 2
Marton Fucsovics vs Egor Gerasimov
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 3-1 Gerasimov
Leaving the quarterfinal performance at Wimbledon and the Rotterdam final, Marton Fucsovics had an average season last year. However, the level he showed on grass was really good, and the draw he faced at Wimbledon was very difficult, so he deserves the credit. Though he lost steam towards the end of the season, it will only be a matter of time before he rediscovers his touch. Egor Gerasimov did well to come through the qualifying rounds with ease. He has started making the main draws consistently on the Main Tour, and he will be hungry to win here. However, that seems unlikely, Fucsovics being such a good hard court player.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
