oeiorThe second set of four second-round matches kicks off on Thursday at the ATP Cordoba Open. Local fans will have plenty to look forward to six Argentinian players in action on day four. A place is in the quarterfinals is on the line and, as always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will reach the quarterfinals?
ATP Cordoba Day 4 Predictions
Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-head: Ramos Vinolas 2-2 Lajovic
While they have played four times prior, their most recent match was in 2018 so those results will not be telling about tomorrow’s tie. Both players will be glad to be on clay after compiling a combined 0-6 record coming into Cordoba before Lajovic won his first round match.
Albert Ramos Vinolas is on a poor run of form taking just one of his last eleven matches and has shown his age over the past year as he is 35 and well past his prime. Dusan Lajovic, meanwhile, has been inconsistent, but won the last event on the clay in November at the Maspalomas Challenger.
Though he had a favourable draw to win the event, the result will be encouraging and Ramos Vinolas has not shown the strength to challenge better players. Lajovic has more tools than Ramos Vinolas right now, so expect the Serbian to advance.
Prediction: Lajovic in 2
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Federico Coria vs Marco Cecchinato
Head-to-head: Coria 2-2 Cecchinato
This is the fifth meeting between the two, facing off once each year for the last five seasons. Marco Cecchinato won the last match in a close three-setter, though Federico Coria holds the edge 2-1 on clay. Both players looked impressive in their first-round wins but Coria is entering with more clay experience under his belt so far this year.
He moved to clay immediately after the Australian Open and started on a high note, winning the Concepcion Challenger two weeks ago, dropping just one set in five matches. Cecchinato is the more inconsistent of the two, with the potential to play big and be a tough out, but also to make errors and beat himself.
Coria will match up well against him and seems to be in a bit better form, and will force the Italian into errors after long rallies that will make the difference.
Prediction: Coria in 3
Cristian Garin vs Joao Sousa
Head-to-head: first meeting
Injuries and inconsistency have caused Cristian Garin to disappear from many tennis fans’ radars after reaching the top-20 and establishing himself as an elite clay court player. He is outside the top-100 but gets a somewhat favourable match in Joao Sousa.
Sousa almost exclusively plays on clay these days, but the 33-year-old does not have the skills that he once did. Garin has built a strong, power-focused baseline game that will be advantageous against an older player.
He faced a difficult opponent in Pedro Martinez in the first round at the ATP Cordoba Open, but showed his capabilities after splitting the first two sets and running away with a 6-0 deciding set. While Garin is still not the player he was a few years ago, he has more tools than Sousa and will be able to win with relative ease.
Prediction: Garin in 2
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Francisco Cerundolo vs Federico Delbonis
Head-to-head: first meeting
This match-up at the ATP Cordoba Open seems like a past vs future of Argentine tennis. Federico Delbonis is a tour-level veteran who spent significant time in the top-50 but has since fallen outside the top-150. Francisco Cerundolo, by way of contrast, seems to be approaching his prime and captured his first career title last year.
Delbonis will be better adjusted to the surface after playing a Challenger two weeks ago and going through qualifying, while Cerundolo is playing his first clay court match of the season. Delbonis has the match fitness but will hope to be fully rested coming into the match.
He spent three hours on court in his first round win after two qualifying matches. That mileage will come into effect especially against a talented baseliner like Cerundolo, who will grow into the match and pull away late.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
Diego Schwartzman vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is surely the match of the day at the ATP Cordoba Open, pitting the top-seed of the tournament Diego Schwartzman against the 2021 Cordoba champion Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Cerundolo won the 2021 event as a qualifier in his first ever ATP event as a teenager, playing four consecutive three set matches in a thrilling run to the title.
He missed last year’s event due to a leg injury that hampered most of his season, so he will be excited to have the chance to fight his way back to being a top player on clay. Schwartzman is in a terrible run of form that has seen him win just one of his last nine matches.
Most of those have been on hard but that is a surface Schwartzman has historically been strong on and there are injury concerns as he retired from his match in Aukland with a hip injury. Cerundolo has played exclusively on clay this year, winning two challengers to start 2023 and amassing a 12-1 record on the year.
Schwartzman is always a tough out, but Cerundolo is fully adjusted to clay, looks to be much sharper than Schwartzman, and has had some magic in Cordoba so he will pull off the upset.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3
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Guido Pella vs Huge Dellien
Head-to-head: Pella 3-0 Dellien
Both are veterans of the tour and meeting up once again at the ATP Cordoba Open after they first matched up in a Futures event in 2011, though Pella has a much better record. The Argentine Pella is an exciting story this week in Cordoba, scoring his first match win in 16 months after a full year layoff due to a serious knee injury.
Hugo Dellien also had a long layoff due to injury last year, but looked back to his old self in Concepcion last week where he made a solid semifinal run. He won two three set qualifying matches here then played a great match against #5 seed Pedro Cachin to win in straight sets without dropping serve.
A strong serve will be key to top Pella who can bring power on the return side. Dellien will serve will and his size forces him to have a strong baseline game. Pella will have the crowd behind him to support his continued comeback, but Dellien looks rounded into form and will pull out a tight, long battle.
Prediction: Dellien in 3
Main photo: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
