First round action continues on Day 2 of the ATP Cordoba Open. The clay court specialists come out to play on Tuesday with a number of close, long matches to be expected. The talented Holger Rune will begin his Cordoba campaign with a tricky test against the experienced Roberto Carballes Baena. Who will prevail? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
ATP Cordoba Day 2 Predictions
Federico Coria vs Juan Pablo Ficovich
H2H: 1-1
Coria reached new heights in 2021 thanks to some impressive results on the red dirt, including a semifinal showing in Cordoba. Expect Coria to get off to a winning start against Ficovich, an opponent Coria has far more experience than at ATP tour level events. Coria is tough to beat in these conditions. Ficovich’s recent results suggest he isn’t up to the task as he is a class below, ranking almost 200 places below Coria for a reason.
Prediction: Coria in 2
Federico Delbonis vs Carlos Taberner
H2H: First meeting.
Federico Delbonis didn’t win a single match on a surface other than clay in 2021 yet currently sits at #40 in the world. The red clay is where the 31-year-old does his best work. The Argentine is 70 odd places above his first round opponent in rankings, but in reality, this matchup is far more even than that suggests. Carlos Taberner won a pair Challenger events on clay in 2021 and made a couple of extra semifinals. The Spaniard is a player on the rise.
There’s unlikely to be much to separate the pair. Experience at this level gives Delbonis the edge, the support of the home crowd will be an added bonus. The Argentine knows how to get the job done.
Prediction: Delbonis in 3
Alejandro Tabilo vs Francisco Cerundolo
H2H: Cerundolo 2-0.
Francisco Cerundolo arrives in Cordoba as one of the form players in the draw. The 23-year-old his 5th challenger title last week in Santa Cruz having reached the quarterfinals in Concepcion the week before. Alejandro Tabilo has winning form of his own having come through the qualifying draw in Cordoba with straight set wins over Renzo Olivo and Thiago Agustin Tirante. Cerundolo and Tabilo are at similar stages of their respective careers and seem fairly evenly matched heading int this first round clash. I’ll give the edge to the Argentine who is very dangerous once he gets on a roll thanks to his fearsome forehand. This seems to be a good matchup for Cerundolo as he easily defeated Tabilo in straight sets in both of their previous meetings, including a 6-1 6-1 drubbing this time last year in similar conditions.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
Holger Rune vs Roberto Carballes Baena
H2H: First meeting.
Holger Rune won four Challenger titles in 2021, three of which were on clay. Now it’s time for the young Dane to do some damage on the ATP tour. Carballes Baena looms as a steady test for Rune in his opening match of the week, one he should be able to pass if he is at his best. If Rune is off his game or lacks discipline, then the steady Carballes Baena will be good enough to take advantage in these conditions. A tough match to call; I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to Rune because of the higher ceiling to his game.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
