It’s time for the remaining eight first-round matches at the ATP 500 in Acapulco and we have a lot of seeds in wobbly form entering the action. Frances Tiafoe will face Rio runner-up Alexandre Muller, while Holger Rune trails the head-to-head with Roberto Carballes Baena 1-2. Who do you think will advance to the next stage of the event?
ATP Acapulco Day 2 Predictions
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Mattia Bellucci
Head-to-head: First meeting
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will have some stuff to overcome mentally after that recent meltdown against Miomir Kecmanovic in the Delray Beach final. At least he should be well-rested after choosing to skip the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro last week. The form of the last few months would generally favor Mattia Bellucci, but it seems like Davidovich Fokina is slowly finding his game again. And it’s tough to trust Bellucci after whatever that final qualifying round performance was (he won one game against Gabriel Diallo).
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
Denis Shapovalov vs Nishesh Basavareddy
Head-to-head: First meeting
Denis Shapovalov hasn’t taken the court since taking the biggest title of his career in Dallas, but it’s nothing compared to the layoff Nishesh Basavareddy had since the Australian Open. It seems like the youngster is fine though as he confidently defeated Stefan Kozlov and James Duckworth in the qualifying. Basavareddy is such a versatile baseliner and these conditions never suited Shapovalov that much with how slow they get and all the matches being played in the Mexican evenings.
Prediction: Basavareddy in 3
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexandre Muller
Head-to-head: First meeting
Alexandre Muller is one of the stories of the season thus far, picking up his maiden title in Hong Kong and then making the final in Rio de Janeiro last week. It’s a more confident and aggressive version of his game and suddenly his ceiling doesn’t seem as low as before. But transitioning from the clay in Brazil to this event isn’t going to be that easy. Considering the travel distance and just one day of rest plus switching surfaces, this likely won’t be one of his stronger showings and Frances Tiafoe should take advantage.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
Holger Rune vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-head: Carballes Baena 2-1
Roberto Carballes Baena has already clinched a big upset win over Holger Rune at the 2023 US Open and it’s not like the Dane is that much more reliable right now. He chose to skip the tournament in Rio de Janeiro after an early exit in Buenos Aires, but it’s unclear whether that was solely related to his physical issues or whether he just got very frustrated with the Golden Swing and it was a tactical decision. Let’s say he somehow figures his stuff out here, but you basically know already that this will be a messy match against a consistent player like Carballes Baena.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Main Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
