The ATP Tour returns to Umag, Croatia for the Plava Laguna Croatia Open. Last year’s event saw Carlos Alcaraz raise his first career ATP trophy. The Spaniard is back to defend his crown as the tournament’s #1 seed but has an uphill battle in what is a loaded field. Day 2 features #5 seed Alex Molcan squaring off against Croatian wildcard Duje Ajdukovic. As always, we at LWOT share will share our thoughts on that match as well as all other happens around the grounds of Umag. Who do you think will be victorious on Day 2?
ATP Umag Day 2 Predictions
Jiri Vesely vs Federico Delbonis
Head-to-Head: Vesely 2-2 Delbonis
Veterans Jiri Vesely and Federico Delbonis are set to square off for the fifth time, but the first since 2018. They are having vastly different 2022 seasons. Vesely holds a 19-16 record this year with wins over the likes of Novak Djokovic, Denis Shapovalov, Marin Cilic, and Roberto Bautista Agut. Delbonis is a measly 12-21 this season. With that said, neither player has been much of a force on the clay in 2022. The Argentine is the better career clay-court player which I believe will help him get to the finish line in what I see as a three-set match.
Prediction: Delbonis in 3
Laslo Djere vs Franco Agamenone
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Laslo Djere will square off with Italian qualifier Franco Agamenone in the first round in Umag. Djere holds a 2022 record of 16-17 and has struggled to string together match wins to advance deep into tournaments. On the other side 29-year-old Franco Agamenone currently holds a career-high ranking of World #136. The Italian has had a lot of Challenger-level success over the past 12 months and is looking to translate that form to the Tour level. Playing with confidence, he picked up a very solid three-set win over Norbert Gombos in Round 2 of qualifying. With that said, I think the tour-level experience of the Serbian wins out in a tight three-setter.
Prediction: Djere in 3
Alex Molcan vs Duje Ajdukovic
Head-to-Head: Molcan 2-0 Ajdukovic
Coming off a run to the Hamburg semifinals #5 seed Alex Molcan is looking to continue his in-form play in Umag. He will take on 21-year-old Croatian wild card Duje Ajdukovic in Round 1. Ajdukovic picked up his first career tour-level win last year at this event but has yet to win a main draw match since then. He does enjoy the clay surface but is not in the best of form this summer. I believe Alex Molcan, who currently holds a career-high ranking of World #38, is ready to turn a corner with a chance to be seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam in New York this summer.
Prediction: Molcan in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
