The ATP Argentina Open has reached the business end as quarterfinal action takes place on Friday in Buenos Aires. The top four seeds remain in the draw, Casper Ruud, Diego Schwartzman, Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini. The top seeds will all be favoured to reach the semifinals. However, it’s not often the top four seeds all reach the semifinals at this level. Will we see any upsets on quarterfinal day?
ATP Buenos Aires Quarterfinal Predictions
Fabio Fognini vs Federico Delbonis
H2H: Fognini 5-4.
Fabio Fognini made a surprisingly solid start in Buenos Aires when he beat Pedro Martinez 6-4 7-6. He will need to produce another solid performance if he is to defeat an in-form Federico Delbonis. The Argentine started his Buenos Aires campaign with a 6-1 6-3 win over Juan Martin Del Potro before beating Pablo Andujar 6-4 6-4.
Seven of the eight tour level meetings between Fognini and Delbonis were on clay, Fognini holds a slender 4-3 advantage in those matches. Delbonis beat Fognini 6-4 6-1 6-3 at Roland Garros last year in their most recent encounter. Fognini is the better player, but he is far less reliable than Delbonis in these conditions. A disciplined effort is guaranteed from Delbonis, he will also have the crowd on his side. Fognini won’t mind playing the role of the villain and is likely to be motivated to perform well here, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Prediction: Fognini in 2
Casper Ruud vs Federico Coria
H2H: Ruud 1-0.
Casper Ruud was understandably rusty in his first clay court match of the season but still managed to defeat Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 6-3. Ruud enjoyed great success on clay in 2021, especially at the lower level ATP events. The top seed has a great chance to continue that trend in Buenos Aires this week.
Federico Coria has defeated a pair of experienced clay court specialists to reach the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires. A 6-1 1-6 6-3 win over Pablo Cuevas was followed by a 4-6 7-5 6-3 win over the fifth seeded Dusan Lajovic. Coria’s run is unlikely to last any longer as he will surely be outclassed by Ruud. There’s nothing Coria does that will consistently trouble the Norwegian.
Prediction: Ruud in 2
Diego Schwartzman vs Francisco Cerundolo
H2H: Schwartzman 1-0
A rematch of last year’s Buenos Aires championship match. Diego Schwartzman thrashed Francisco Cerundolo in last year’s final, a 6-1 6-2 beatdown. The Argentine number one’s form isn’t as impressive in the lead up to this particular matchup which potentially gives Cerundolo a better chance to at least be competitive. Schwartzman laboured past Jaume Munar in his Buenos Aires opener whilst Cerundolo enters this match on a high after upsetting Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 3-6 6-2. Schwartzman’s experience make’s the clear favourite in this spot, but he is far from unbeatable right now. I still doubt Cerundolo has the consistent high level to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs Fernando Verdasco
H2H: 1-1.
It’s turning out to be a good week for Fernando Verdasco. Back-to-back tour level wins have been a rarity for the Spaniard who is now through to his third tour level quarterfinal since the start of 2020. The 38-year-old defeated Hugo Dellien 6-4 3-6 6-1 in the opening round before outlasting Thiago Monteiro 2-6 6-3 7-5.
Third seed Lorenzo Sonego made a strong start in Buenos Aires when he comfortably beat Sebastian Baez 6-3 6-3. It’s been a topsy-turvy start to the season for the talented Italian, a matchup with a fading Verdasco presents as a good opportunity to reach his first semifinal of the season.
Sonego should be prevailing in this matchup given where each player is at in their respective careers. Sonego looked very solid against Baez in round one, a similar effort will result in a victory over Verdasco.
Prediction: Sonego in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
