The seeds have suffered in the ATP 500 tournament in Rio this week. The majority of them have already left the stage by the quarterfinals. However, there are some really interesting matchups coming up on Day 5 in Brazil. Who will reach the semifinals? We can unfortunately only predict three of the matches, as two Round 2 matches are yet to be completed due to rain.
ATP Rio Quarterfinal Predictions
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-head: 1-0 Cerundolo
This pair met for the first time last week in Buenos Aires. Cerundolo took that contest in a 3rd set so will probably start the favorite in this contest as well. In Buenos Aires, Kecmanovic’s serve was tremendously ineffective. He landed his first serve 65% of the time, which is actually good and, indeed, better than Cerundolo managed, but he won only 54% of points with it. Almost exactly the same percentage as his second serve. If Cerundolo is able to dominate against the Serbian’s delivery again then this match will go the same way. However, Kecmanovic in Rio looks to have a higher win percentage than last week, and as a former world junior #1, he is capable of learning quickly and stepping up his game. I will give him the chance to learn from his mistakes and take on the Argentine here.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
Pablo Andujar vs Diego Schwartzman
Head-to-head: 1-0 Schwartzman
Almost every form line points towards Schwartzman here. Andujar had to travel through a 3 hour plus battle royale against Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the previous round to get here, his first quarterfinal in Brazil since 2014. Schwartzman, on the other hand, had a straightforward victory to warm up into the tournament. Andujar also holds serve less and breaks less often than the Argentine on clay. I can see Schwartzman being able to get into every Andujar service game and move the Spaniard around to breaking point.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 2
Fabio Fognini vs Federico Coria
Head-to-head: First meeting
This will be a match between two clay-court specialists, both of whom had typically wild swinging clay court classics in the last round. Fognini played as well as he has in three or four years in defeating a perfectly good Pablo Carreno Busta in three sets. Coria had to really tough it out against Fernando Verdasco in a match that went over 3 hours. There won’t necessarily be a bearing from those matches onto this one but having watched Fognini closely it was very interesting that no matter the situation the usually volatile Italian was able to keep his cool and his focus. Hitting over 40 winners and keeping the unforced errors low just shows how well Fognini is seeing the ball and any repeat of that level will surely be too good for Coria.
Prediction: Fognini in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
