We are down to eight men in the ATP Rio Open draw as quarterfinal Friday provides an excellent opportunity for four players to move closer to this 500-level title. Five of the top eight seeds in the draw have made it to the quarterfinals, including No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard has looked dominant in Brazil’s capital as he looks to defend his 2022 Rio Open title. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for Alcaraz’s quarterfinal match against Dusan Lajovic as well as all other happenings around the grounds of Rio. But who will advance?
ATP Rio De Janeiro Quarterfinal Predictions
Sebastian Baez vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-Head: Baez 1-0 Jarry
After winning just one match from August 2022 to January 2023, Sebastian Baez has seemed to find some confidence during the Golden Swing. Baez won the title in Cordoba two weeks ago and has yet to drop a set during two matches in Rio. The 22-year-old Argentine has always been a monster on the clay and seems to have his confidence back. He faces a tough quarterfinal bout against another clay-court specialist, Nicolas Jarry. The 27-year-old Chilean worked his way through qualifying and has yet to drop a set in four matches in Rio. He has wins over Lorenzo Musetti, Pedro Martinez, and Juan Manuel Cerundolo. This should be a very intriguing battle with plenty of drawn-out points. As the more consistent ball striker from the baseline, I give the edge to the Argentine.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Spaniards Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Bernabe Zapata Miralles are set to square off for the first time with a spot in the Rio semifinals on the line. Both have made a semifinal in the first two stops of the Golden Triangle; Ramos-Vinolas in Cordoba and Zapata Miralles in Buenos Aires. These two are not afraid to play a defensive style of tennis and dig balls out of each corner. I expect a very physical battle on the clay but give the veteran Ramos-Vinolas the advantage. Zapata Miralles is just 1-4 in his tour-level career against lefties.
Prediction: Ramos-Vinolas in 3
Cameron Norrie vs Hugo Dellien
Head-to-Head: first meeting
No. 2 seed Cameron Norrie is looking to reach his third semifinal of the year as he takes on 29-year-old Bolivian Hugo Dellien. Norrie has looked clinical in his wins over Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Thiago Monteiro this week and holds a perfect 10-0 record against players outside the top 75 this year. Dellien currently has a live ranking of world No. 94 but is playing confidently after coming from a set down to take out Alex Molcan. I like the Bolivian’s game on clay, but I believe Norrie will be too powerful and precise with his groundstrokes.
Prediction: Norrie in 2
Carlos Alcaraz vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-Head: Alcaraz 2-0 Lajovic
After missing over three months of tennis with a leg injury, world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is back in action and has not missed a beat. The 19-year-old Spaniard cruised to a title last week in Buenos Aires and came up with a lot of important shots in his second-round win in Rio over a vintage Fabio Fognini. The Spanish phenom is 6-0 in 2023 and shows no signs of slowing up. He faces a tricky quarterfinal test against Dusan Lajovic. Lajovic is 6-1 over the last week, but that one loss came at the hands of Alcaraz 6-4 6-2. Although I like Lajovic’s game on the clay, nothing about his performance during the loss to the Spaniard last week indicated that this match will be different.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
