It’s time to wrap up the first round of the 2024 ATP Millennium Estoril Open on Day 2. Both young Portuguese prospects will be in action with Jaime Faria and Henrique Rocha. Can one of them pick up a win? Who do you think will come out on top?
ATP Estoril Day 2 Predictions
Federico Coria vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s a pretty fascinating matchup between a solid clay-court specialist and someone who has demonstrated potential of the highest caliber in the past, but has been struggling in the past few months. Botic van de Zandschulp isn’t poor on the dirt at all and in fact lots of the build-up to his majestic US Open run back in the day was done through consistent results on this surface at the Challenger level. His rally tolerance has been down of late though, so maybe Federico Coria can have a slight edge if he can expose it.
Prediction: Coria in 3
Jaime Faria vs David Jorda Sanchis
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jaime Faria recently attracted a lot of attention by posting a 20-match ITF win streak with four titles in a row. The 20-year-old earned another stunning result by qualifying here, looking much sharper in the damp conditions against Lukas Klein. This is a wonderful opportunity for him with lucky loser David Jorda Sanchis subbing in for Constant Lestienne. The Spaniard’s serve is a pretty underrated weapon, but off the ground Faria really should be fine against him.
Prediction: Faria in 3
Marton Fucsovics vs Pedro Cachin
Head-to-head: Fucsovics 1-0
Pedro Cachin is 0-9 for the year and if you add to that four losses to end his 2023 campaign, that’s already a 13-match losing streak for the Argentinian. The thing is especially during the Golden Swing, he was actually taking sets left and right and managing to stay competitive with every player faced. That came to a hard crash against Andrea Vavassori in Miami, his most recent performance. At some point the streak will be broken, but Marton Fucsovics will try hard not to be the one to do it.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 2
Henrique Rocha vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-head: First meeting
Henrique Rocha recently won his maiden Challenger title in Murcia and after qualifying for this event last year, this time he receives a main draw wildcard. Gael Monfils is not the worst draw he could have gotten, but it’s a big step up anyway. Rocha’s only match against a Top 100 opponent came at this very stage last year and Bernabe Zapata Miralles handled him somewhat easily. The 19-year-old is better prepared now but will still need to really step out of his comfort zone to win.
Prediction: Monfils in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
