Lots of exciting first-round matches are scheduled on Day 2 of the ATP Croatia Open. This article features some #6 seed, Roberto Carballes Baena and former champion, Dusan Lajovic. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate, but who will advance to the next round?
ATP Umag Day 2 Predictions
Kamil Majchrzak vs Pablo Llamas Ruiz
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Kamil Majchrzak has had a strong season with notable performances on clay. He is making his Croatia Open debut and will look to make a winning start. He will play qualifier and World No.571 Pablo Llamas Ruiz, who is looking for his first Tour-level win of the season. Ruiz did well to qualify for the main draw, but he doesn’t have the weapons to trouble Majchrzak. He has a solid serve, but that won’t count for much in these slower conditions.
Prediction: Majchrzak in 3
Cristian Garin vs Titouan Droguet
Head-to-Head: Garin 0-1 Droguet
Cristian Garin must be disappointed with his straight-set loss in the first round in Bastad after appearing to be returning to form in the previous month. Garin is a rhythm player and can play great tennis when he is on. He will need to win the first couple of rounds here, and anything can happen after that. Titouan Droguet won’t be an easy opponent as he has beaten Garin before, but he doesn’t have much experience at the ATP level. Facing a player of Garin’s calibre will be a big task for the Frenchman.
Prediction: Garin in 3
Dusan Lajovic vs Terence Atmane
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Dusan Lajovic is in the worst stretch of his career and having his worst season since 2013. The 35-year-old has won just three Tour-level matches all season and is on a four-match losing streak. However, this is easily his best tournament, having won the title back in 2019 and reaching the quarterfinals in the last four appearances. Terence Atmane is a talented player and will cause some problems to Lajovic’s one-hander with his lefty forehand. His form hasn’t been great, though, and the confidence won’t be as high as it should be to take down a former champion.
Prediction: Lajovic in 3
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-Head: Carballes Baena 0-2 Basilashvili
Nikoloz Basilashvili has failed to carry on the momentum he got at Wimbledon and has lost his last two matches. His ceiling is pretty high, but consistency has been a problem. Roberto Carballes Baena has never won against Basilashvili, but this is his best chance to do so. The Spaniard has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Croatia Open in his last two appearances, and his solid baseline game and defense will force errors from the Georgian’s racquet.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
