The first half of the second round matches at the ATP 250 event in Cordoba are being played on Day 3, with three seeds in action–including the #2 and #3 seeds. Christian Garin is one of the players most glad to be playing the first clay court tournament of the year, going just 1-5 in his six hard court matches played so far. At the end of the day, half of the quarterfinals will be set in what is sure to be a good tournament with a strong field for a 250.
ATP Cordoba Day 3 Predictions
Attila Balazs vs Christian Garin
Head to head: first meeting
Christian Garin was one of the breakout stars on the ATP tour in 2019. His jump into the top 40 was led by strong performances on clay. He went 14-6 on the surface, highlighted by his first two tour-level titles. Balazs is a journeyman trying to crack the top 100, and has started his year off right by winning the title at the Bangkok Challenger. Balazs had an impressive first round against Lorenzo Sonego, but Garin has a complete game that is very suited for the clay and will have all the answers to beat the Hungarian.
Prediction: Garin in 2
Pablo Cuevas vs Gianluca Mager
Head to head: first meeting
This is the first meeting between the two men, largely due to Mager’s career never really taking off. Cuevas is 34 and not the player he once was, but he is still inside the Top 50 and is always a threat on clay, posting a respectable 14-9 on the surface last year in addition to two challenger titles. Mager has seen some success on the challenger tour, but his game has not quite proved ready for the main tour yet and Cuevas will win comfortably.
Prediction: Cuevas in 2
Carlos Taberner vs Andrej Martin
Head to head: 1-0 Taberner
The sole meeting between the two was won by the lower ranked Taberner last season, but it did come by way of a Martin retirement in the second set. As with most of the field, both players prefer clay and they each played extreme clay court heavy schedules in 2019. Both had a lot of success on the challenger tour, with Martin winning just a bit more to sit right at #100, while Taberner is barely inside the top 200. Taberner comes in with momentum after beating Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco in the first round. However, Taberner took three sets to top Verdasco in addition to playing qualifying, while Martin has played just one straight set match. Martin is the better player, and will enjoy fresher legs that will be the difference to help him win.
Prediction: Martin in 2
Corentin Moutet vs Guido Pella
Head to head: 1-1
These two players have played each of the last two seasons, splitting their meetings, both on clay. Moutet comes in confident having reached the final in Doha to begin the year. He showed he can win big matches, beating three players who each went on to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals. Pella had a respectable third round showing at the Australian Open, and will be glad to be back on clay courts. Moutet also is best on the clay, and has a match under his belt this week. Moutet had strong results on clay last year, but most of his experience on the surface is at the challenger level. Although Pella will be adjusting to the clay, he made the finals in Cordoba last year and will avenge his French Open loss in a match that could go either way.
Prediction: Pella in 3
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