Day 3 at the ATP 250 in Umag sees top seed and former champion Andrey Rublev attempt to exorcise his Argentine demons to avoid a third straight loss to an Argentine player. The home crowd will also have something to cheer as homeboy Duje Ajdukovic challenges fellow youngster Luciano Darderi. Who will advance to the next round?
ATP Umag Day 3 Predictions
Luciano Darderi vs Duje Ajdukovic
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Two in-form players meet for the first time on their favourite surface, and it promises to be an exciting encounter in Umag. Darderi had seven wins on the bounce clay before succumbing to Sebastian Baez in last week’s Hamburg quarterfinals. He is up against Ajdukovic, who was on a five-match win streak before losing to Rafael Nadal in the Bastad semifinals.
The Italian is the more accomplished player, but there’s no reason he should be heavily favored against the Croatian, who has shown significant improvement this season. With the home crowd behind him, expect Ajdukovic to nick a set and go on to win this.
Prediction: Ajdukovic in 3
Luca Van Assche vs Fabio Fognini
–to–Head: Van Assche 0 – 1 Fognini
Contrasting fortunes for both players at the moment. 37-year-old Fognini seems to have found his rhythm again, and it’ll be difficult not to back him to win this encounter, especially against a player he beat in straight sets at Wimbledon weeks ago.
Prediction: Fognini in 2
Fabian Marozsan vs Thiago Monteiro
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Thiago Monteiro overcame the disappointment of losing out in the Bastad quarterfinals against Duje Ajdukovic with a superb comeback win over Tomas Machac. He’ll step on the court more confidently against Marozsan, who has only managed to win just 4 of his last 14. Give me the Brazilian to close this out quickly.
Prediction: Monteiro in 2
Andrey Rublev vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Ordinarily, this should be a walkover for Rublev, but his confidence and mental state appear to have taken a hit with his recent inexplicable losses. He lost in the Wimbledon first round to Argentine Francisco Comesana before being sent packing in his first match at Bastad by another Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Carabelli should be motivated to score an Argentine hat trick over the top seed, but I think this will be a bounce-back spot for the Russian as he seeks to win his second title here.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
