After an impressive comeback title from Carlos Alcaraz in Buenos Aires, the Golden Swing moves on to the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, where the Spaniard will be the one to beat again. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win on Monday?
ATP Rio De Janeiro Day 1 Predictions
Joao Sousa vs Hugo Dellien
Head-to-head: first meeting
Two veterans in very different spots of form. 33-year-old Sousa, now on the edge of dropping out of the Top 150, is 6-20 in non-Davis Cup matches since last year’s French Open. Things started to look up for the Portuguese as he beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Cristian Garin to reach the Cordoba quarterfinals but lost again in the first round last week. After almost seven months out, Dellien lost his returning match at the Australian Open but is 8-3 since. The Bolivian beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo to reach the semifinals at the Concepcion Challenger and beat the young Argentine again as well as Pedro Cachin to reach the semifinals of Cordoba as a qualifier. Dellien has to be the favorite here on current form.
Prediction: Dellien in 2
Pedro Martinez vs Cristian Garin
Head-to-head: Garin 4-1 Martinez
Rematch of a Cordoba first round match from two weeks ago which Garin won in a third-set bagel. The Chilean has now won four out of their five previous meetings. After beating Sebastian Baez to reach the quarterfinals of Pune, Martinez has failed to win since, now on a four-match losing streak. Garin’s results have also been largely disappointing in 2023 but with his superior head-to-head, the Chilean should be a favorite here.
Prediction: Garin in 3
Dominic Thiem vs Thiago Monteiro
Head-to-head: first meeting
Last week, Thiem got his first win of the season over Alex Molcan but he lost again in straight sets to Juan Pablo Varillas, who went on to reach the semifinals. Monteiro, 2-6 excluding Davis Cup, has also been unimpressive. The Brazilian has a streak of winning at least a round in his last three Rio appearances, though his losses to Federico Coria and Pedro Cachin in the first two Golden Swing stops are not confidence-inducing. It’s a tough one to call but I believe Thiem could win again here.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane USAToday Sports
