With the ATP Tour now in its Latin America swing, we move on to Day 1 in Buenos Aires. It’s a welcome sight to see the red clay courts returning for the first time since late last summer. Headlined by world #2 Carlos Alcaraz, it’s hard to see the Spaniard not coming home with the title this week but stranger things have happened in the past.
Buenos Aires Day 1 Predictions
Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: 0-0
Despite coming off three back-to-back losses on tour, this is a very good chance for the German to stop the losing streak from continuing. Whilst Diaz Acosta’s game is made for the clay more sothan any other surface as highlighted with his quarter-final run in Cordoba, his game is still very limited and against better players struggles to make many inroads. Altmaier has the bigger game and there’s a reason he’s won four Challenger titles on this surface the past two years, all the more reason he should get the win here.
Prediction: Altmaier in 3
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head: Etcheverry 1-0
This is without a doubt a match between two proper clay courters who love to grind each rally out for as long as they can. Finding himself in the world’s Top 30 now, after a great run to the third round at the Australian Open, beating both Andy Murray and Gael Monfils in straight sets en route, the Argentine is only getting better. A disappointing loss last week may have hampered things a little but it’s hard to see him not being more accustomed to the clay again this week to have a much better run than in Cordoba. The Spaniard possesses more power but unless he’s able to hit through the 24-year-old for a few hours, Etchverry does everything else on the court far better.
Prediction: Etchverry in 2
Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Cachin
Head-to-head: 0-0
Just when things were looking better for Stan Wawrinka last summer, it’s all suddenly gone very downhill since. Despite still be ranked in the world’s top 60 the three time Grand Slam champion ended 2023 with eight losses in his last eleven matches and then a disappointing first round loss at the Australian Open this year as well. Thankfully for his sake, his opponent hasn’t won any official match in the past four months, including losses to several players outside the world’s top 300. We all know how good Wawrinka can be but those days are seemingly long gone with the movement declining heavily as well as the errors being far more common on both the forehand and backhand. Despite all of that though, the man from Switzerland seems like the favourite in what might not be the prettiest of matches to watch.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
Marin Cilic vs Laslo Djere
Head-to-head: Cilic 2-0
Without a doubt one of the highlights of the first round encounters in Buenos Aires this week. Under normal circumstances, you would expect the Croatian to breeze past the Serb but things aren’t what they seem. This will be only the sixth match Marin Cilic has played last January due to being for the most part, sidelined with injury, hence now being ranked outside of the world’s top 1000. However, despite his three losses this year not coming alongside a single win, they’ve been competitive rather than being completely blown away, something to build off perhaps. Djere is a much better player than when the two have met in the past but also not in anywhere near good form given his start to the year. If Marin Cilic is to get his career back on track to have a decent last few years before calling it a day, this is the time to start.
Prediction: Cilic in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
