Day 2 at the ATP Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech features top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime taking center stage alongside the likes of former Roland Garros semifinalist Marco Cecchinato and the man who ended Juan Martin Del Potro’s career just two months ago, Federico Delbonis.
ATP Marrakech Day 2 Predictions
Federico Delbonis vs Joao Sousa
Head-to-head: Delbonis 3-2
It’s fair to say both of these men have been in horrid form lately. The Argentine has just won the single match in his last four events after a good run to the semi-finals in Buenos Aires, his home event. On the other side, Sousa won the title in Pune under two months ago and since hasn’t won a main tour ATP match. Surprising Sousa leads the head-to-head on clay 3-2 but Delbonis has won the last two encounters overall routinely and is the far better clay courter. Expect to see Sousa’s losing streak grow that little bit bigger.
Prediction: Delbonis in 2
Alex Molcan vs Stefano Travaglia
Head-to-head: 0-0
Not exactly the match many expect to see on the main ATP draw and that’s highlighted by Travaglia only getting into the event as an alternate. For World #65 Molcan it’s been a solid start to the year with a quarter-final in Melbourne and just one first round loss whilst his opponent is coming off a second round loss last week to Giulio Zeppieri ranked outside the top 200. Molcan is the far more consistent player and it’s hard to see the Slovakian not getting the win here.
Prediction: Molcan in 2
Marco Cecchinato vs Roberto Carbelles Baena
Head-to-head: 1-1
No doubt one of the more interesting matches of the day between two hardcourt clay veterans. Just like their head-to-head at one a piece, this could well be a tight affair but not for the reason of both playing well. Cecchinato has lost an astonishing seven matches in a row whilst the Spaniard hasn’t won a main tour match in coming up to two months. There was once a time where Cecchinato could light it up on the clay courts with that tremendous backhand and a time where Carbellas Baena was rock solid against the non-elite guys, but those are long gone. This won’t be pretty.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in 3
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Elliot Benchetrit
Head-to-head: 0-0
The top seed, the wild card, and the man everyone is coming to watch, Felix Auger-Aliassime. From what was an amazing start to the year with a third consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne to his maiden title in Rotterdam, followed by a final in Marseille, it looked like the young Canadian had finally turned a corner. A month later and things have somewhat fallen apart, with poor losses in Indian Wells and Miami to Van De Zandschulp and Kecamanovic in his opening matches in both events. Thankfully for him, playing the world #436 is a nice draw to get back to winning ways and regain some confidence.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
