First and second round matches will be in session on Day 2 at the ATP Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Some of the seeded field will be in action after receiving a Round 1 bye looking to make some noise in this 500 event. Day 2 has a stacked slate featuring a quarterfinalist from 2021, Diego Schwartzman, taking on American Mackenzie McDonald. We at LWOT will be providing previews and predictions for all the matches on the slate. Let’s get into it.
ATP Barcelona Day 2 Predictions
Carlos Taberner vs Sebastian Korda
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Carlos Taberner and Sebastian Korda will square off in Round 1 of this 500 level event in what will be the first meeting between the two. Taberner made his way through qualifying, dropping just five games in two matches. The 24-year-old Spaniard is finally starting to break onto the tour-level circuit after mostly being a Challenger level player for the first part of his career. 21-year-old Sebastian Korda has announced himself as a possible next great American with his play over the last 15 months. Korda holds a career 11-7 tour-level record on the clay having already tallied a Round of 16 Roland Garros run in 2020. I enjoy watching Carlos Taberner’s game and believe he has a bright future, but I believe this has a chance to be a tremendous summer for young Seb Korda.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Pablo Andujar vs Ugo Humbert
Head-to-Head: Humbert 1-0 Andujar
Clay-court specialist Pablo Andujar is looking for revenge against Ugo Humbert after the Frenchman knocked him out of last summer’s Olympic Games. The Spaniard, in his 19th professional season, will really look to take advantage of the clay swing this season. Ugo Humbert has been abysmal to start his 2022 campaign. He has won just ONE match since January 1st. Even in previous seasons, the Frenchman has not shown a liking to clay. Pablo Andujar should be motivated and ready against the struggling Humbert.
Prediction: Andujar in 2
Elias Ymer vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-Head: Ymer 1-1 Sonego
Elias Ymer worked his way through qualifying before dispatching Maxime Cressy 6-3 6-0 in Round 1. Having already played three matches this week, Ymer may have a slight edge over the #11 seed Lorenzo Sonego. The Italian has won just one of his last seven matches, but does have a game that suits the clay. These two split their only career head-to-heads in 2018 on the Challenger Tour. I like the way Elias Ymer is playing. He holds a 7-3 record in all competitions since the start of March. With that said, I like the Italian to right his recent struggles in his debut in Barcelona.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
Diego Schwartzman vs Mackenzie McDonald
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Diego Schwartzman and Mackenzie McDonald will square off in Round 2 in Barcelona in what is a matchup between two of the shorter players currently ranked inside the World’s top 50. Schwazrtman is coming off a quarterfinal run in Monte Carlo where he was downed in three-sets by Stefanos Tsitsipas in what is in the early conversation for match of the year. The Argentine holds a 12-4 record on clay this season having reach the final in Buenos Aries and Rio. American Mackenzie McDonald has only played 17 career tour-level matches on the clay. He holds a 6-11 record. With that said, he is not one of the big serve, big forehand Americans. McDonald likes to grind points and I believe he will eventually find his footing on this surface. I do not, however, see a break through for him in Barcelona.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
