The ATP Tour stays in Argentina with the second clay court tournament of the year in Buenos Aires, following last week in Cordoba. The field is very similar to last week’s in Cordoba with primarily clay court specialists, highlighted by Cordoba champion Christian Garin winning his third ATP title, all in the last 12 months. This will once again be an early showcase of top clay players trying to build up their rankings before the bulk of the clay court season.
ATP Buenos Aires Day 1 Predictions
Jaume Munar vs Thiago Monteiro
Head to head: first meeting
Munar is a young, very talented Spaniard who like most of his countryman excels on clay, but he has flown under the radar in a deep group of Spanish players. Monteiro is only 25, but he has grinded on the challenger circuit for years, winning five titles, all on clay. This is Monteiro’s sixth straight week of tennis, but his fatigue should not be a huge factor as he had almost a week off after losing first round in Cordoba. Munar capped off 2019 with a challenger title in Montevideo, while Monteiro has already won a trophy this season on the challenger circuit. This will be a vintage clay court match with both players fighting for every point, and Monteiro’s superior form and more experience will help him prevail.
Prediction: Monteiro in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Pablo Cuevas
Head to head: first meeting
Sonego is comfortable on clay, and won the Genova Challenger several months ago. Since then he has been dreadful, currently in the midst of a ten match losing streak. Most of those were on hard courts, but he struggle to find his game last week on clay in a straight sets loss to world #108 Attila Balzas. Cuevas is a talented veteran whose crafty all-around game has made him a consistent threat at clay events. He made the quarterfinal in Cordoba, and was able to win the first set 6-1 against Cordoba champion Christian Garin before the talented Chilean took over. Cuevas is the better player and in better form and will outplay the Italian to advance to round two.
Prediction: Cuevas in 2
Federico Delbonis vs Hugo Dellien
Head to head: first meeting
Dellien has had a truly awful start to the year. Entering this week he has played seven sets and won only eight games. Delbonis is on the decline in his career, but he will always be a threat on clay with his lefty forehand, and his past success with two ATP titles on the surface. Although Dellien is also best on clay, he has not beaten a top 100 opponent on the surface since the 2019 French Open. Delbonis has a solid game, and Dellien has struggled against left handed players in his career. Delbonis will exploit Dellien’s weaknesses with his forehand and will win convincingly.
Prediction: Delbonis in 2
Casper Ruud vs Pablo Andujar
Head to head: 1-0 Andujar
The lone meeting between the pair was last year in at the Prostejov Challenger won convincingly 6-2 6-4 by Andujar. Ruud has had some of his top results on clay, although with his strong groundstrokes he has been solid on all surfaces. The veteran Andjuar is purely a clay court specialist, and he does come into this match with a 1-8 record in his last nine matches, but only two of those were on clay, including his one win. Ruud is younger and will hit hard and play with energy, but Andujar can use his spin and overall skill on the surface to break him down and win the match.
Prediction: Andujar in 2
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