The ATP Cordoba Open produced one of the biggest underdog stories in the 2019 season, when the relatively unknown Juan Ignacio Londero won his maiden tour-level match and sensationally went all the way to clinch the title.
Twelve months later, Londero returns as the defending champion, but he will face stiff competition in an effort to retain his crown.
On Day 2 of the ATP Cordoba Open, a number of players will be looking to stamp their authority on proceedings. Here are our thoughts on who will reach the second round. We also have predictions for the other four matches on Tuesday.
ATP Cordoba Open Day 2 Predictions
Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Facundo Bagnis
Head-to-head: Ramos Vinolas 1-0 Bagnis
Albert Ramos Vinolas endured a somewhat turbulent start to the 2019 season, dropping outside the Top 100 for the first time in five years and struggling to string wins on tour on a consistent basis. However, he regained his stride during the brief European clay-court swing post-Wimbledon, where he reached the semifinals in Bastad, and the finals in Kitzbuhel, and in between captured his second career title in Gstaad. The Spaniard’s strong showing in the second half of last season enabled him to break inside the world’s Top 50 (currently ranked at No.42).
Ramos Vinolas’ first round opponent will be the Argentinean qualifier Facundo Bagnis, who has been ranked as high as World No.55, but those heydays are certainly behind him. Both players are comfortable playing on the clay, but expect the Spanish left-hander’s greater firepower to come out on top.
Prediction: Ramos Vinolas in 2
Pablo Andujar vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pablo Andujar is not in the best form right now, and his first-round match against the wild card Francisco Cerundolo could turn out to be more complicated for the Spaniard. Cerundolo is a 21-year-old Argentinean who is regarded highly among his peers and the Argentinean tennis community. His only other tour-level appearance also came as a wildcard in the Argentina Open last year, when he pushed Guido Pella, the World No.22, mighty close in a three-set defeat. Given Andujar’s terrible run of form and Cerundolo’s energy to gain his first ATP win, the Cordoba organizers won’t be disappointed by the wildcard selection.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
Corentin Moutet vs Thiago Montero
Head-to-head: First meeting
Corentin Moutet has been the top performing Frenchman in the opening weeks of the year, and his run to his first ATP final in Doha last month did not go unnoticed. Moutet came through the qualifiers in Qatar and knocked out two of the highest seeds in the tournament in Wawrinka and Raonic, before falling to an inspired Andrey Rublev in the final.
After losing to experienced Marin Cilic in the first round in Melbourne, Moutet will look to take another leap. The 20-year-old has recorded some of the biggest results of his young career on clay. Last year, he became the youngest Frenchman to reach the third round of the French Open since Gael Monfils in 2006. His task to make an impression in Cordoba won’t be easy as he locks horns with Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro in the first round. Monteiro is in buoyant spirits after retaining his crown at the Punta Del Este Challenger in Uruguay last weekend, but expect Moutet to punish any ponderousness from the man from Fortazela.
Prediction: Moutet in 2
Juan Ignacio Londero vs Marco Cecchinato
Head-to-head: First meeting
Londero will make his return to Cordoba, twelve months on from the biggest week of his life and he is certainly guaranteed a hero’s welcome when he takes to the court to play Marco Cecchinato in his first match.
The 26-year-old Argentine beat Nicolas Jarry at this stage last year – a victory that will forever be etched in his memory for as long as he plays the game. It served as the catalyst for a dream week in his hometown as he streaked to his maiden ATP tour title. Londero’s ranking naturally shot up after that title triumph (rising almost 50 places to inside the top-70), but it took a while for it to really sink in. He went on to reach the fourth-round of Roland Garros – his best performance in a slam- and also made a second career final in Bastad, losing out to Jarry.
Londero is still seeking his first match-win of the 2020 season after being beaten in the first rounds of both Adelaide and the Australian Open. It will come as a massive relief to him as he returns on clay against an opponent who has fallen from grace, but still capable of springing a surprise. Marco Cecchinato’s fitness will be a huge cause for concern after a laborious week playing the Punta Del Este Challenger in Uruguay. The Italian squandered three match points in the final and lost in three sets to Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro.
It is hard to see how the former French Open semifinalist recovers in less than 48 hours to play the defending champion.
Prediction: Londero in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
