The Golden Swing continues on day two at the ATP Buenos Aires. It promises to be an entertaining day of clay-court tennis in the Argentine capital, with eight matches on the schedule. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Dominic Thiem vs Alex Molcan. But who will come out on top in Buenos Aires?
ATP Buenos Aires Day 2 Predictions
Hugo Dellien vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head: Dellien 1-1 Etcheverry
With the margins so tight at this level, particularly during the Golden Swing where serves have lesser impact on the results, winning and losing can often be a matter of who’s hitting the ball better on the day. Whilst Tomas Martin Etcheverry’s recent form has been impressive, Hugo Dellien was excellent in wins over Pedro Cachin, Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Guido Pella last week. It will be close, but Dellien’s confidence is rightly sky high right now.
Prediction: Dellien in 3
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Joao Sousa vs Juan Pablo Varillas
Head-to-head: Pablo Varillas 1-0 Sousa
Joao Sousa is almost certainly still a threat on red clay. His ranking has fallen to around #150 and that is largely because he has lost his way completely on hard courts in recent years, but make no mistake, on this surface Sousa has still been still mix it with top 50 opposition. Juan Pablo Varillas hits a quality ball, but Sousa still covers the court superbly. He still has some good runs left in him and the ATP Buenos Aires Open might be the perfect stage for one of them.
Prediction: Sousa in 2
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Francisco Cerundolo vs Yannick Hanfmann
Head-to-head: Cerundolo 1-0 Hanfmann
Much like Sousa, don’t be fooled by Francisco Cerundolo’s poor form on hard courts (though he looks to have turned a corner there too after making the third round in Melbourne). The former finalist has only been beaten by Diego Schwartzman in his last two trips to Buenos Aires, with few able to handle his forehand with the time he is afforded to set up the shot on clay. He is a serious contender for the title this week.
Yannick Hanfmann’s had results on this surface that warrant attention but he can also get a little over-reliant on his serve. Cerundolo has some of the best returning numbers in the men’s game and will also have the vocal backing of the crowd, so expect the Argentine be able to squeeze through two tight sets, provided he’s recovered from his explots last week.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
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Dusan Lajovic vs Sebastian Baez
Head-to-head: Baez 1-0 Lajovic
There’s a lot to be said for Sebastian Baez’s title last week. The Argentinian had lost 17 of his last 18 matches yet was immediately able to emerge an ATP champion at his first event on clay in eight months. To muster the strength of character and confidence required to do that, well there’s no real reason to think Baez can’t make it two titles in as many weeks titles, especially as he is once again on home soil. Dusan Lajovic will be a very tricky first-round opponent, with the Serb is no pushover from the back of the court, especially on his favourite surface. Don’t be surprised if Lajovic ends up winning a set but, Baez looks like a man with something to prove.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Main photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
