It should be an entertaining second day at ATP Toronto with 16 intriguing matches on the schedule in Canada. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Joao Fonseca vs Tristan Schoolkate and Liam Draxl vs Pablo Carreno Busta. But who will book their spot in the second round?
ATP Toronto Day 2 Predictions
Dan Martin vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-head: first meeting
Even getting an opportunity in qualifying was massive for Dan Martin, considering where the world #554 is in his career, . The revamped ATP 1000 in Canada required players to get through only one round and the Canadian was quite fortunate to run into Taro Daniel, who is in free fall (6-22 for the season). Jaume Munar wasn’t known for being a hard-court expert before this year, but he’s improved a lot and should be able to end the story of the underdog who, frankly, looks overmatched
Prediction: Munar in 2
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Aleksandar Vukic vs Pedro Martinez
Head-to-head: Martinez 2-0 Vukic
Pedro Martinez is not in good shape this year and while the third-round run at Wimbledon was enough to cover it to some extent, the Spaniard could be facing some ranking trouble soon. He defeated Aleksandar Vukic in their lone hard-court meeting in Chengdu last year, but things are trending more in the Australian’s favour right now. Indeed, this looks like a good opportunity for Vukic on a surface he is clearly comfortable on and in solid if not spectacular form. Expect him to take it and avenge his twin defeats to Martinez.
Prediction: Vukic in 2
Christopher O’Connell vs Tseng Chun-hsin
Head-to-head: Tseng 2-1 O’Connell
Christopher O’Connell has been struggling to get wins on the board recently and Ethan Quinn crushed him in Washington last week. But lucky loser Tseng Chun-hsin tends to be a pretty good draw on hard courts, as evidenced by his defeat to Ugo Blanchet in qualifying. The Taiwanese won their only hard-court match, but that came via retirement in Seoul three years ago so probably isn’t particularly relevant here. O’Connell might start rebuilding his form here, just don’t expect it to be pain-free.
Prediction: O’Connell in 3
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Marcos Giron vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: Giron 3-2 Mannarino
Adrian Mannarino picked up his form at the start of the grass-court swing and it seems like his performances on hard have followed suit with the veteran Frenchman rolling back the years. But this is not an easy first-round matchup. While the head-to-head record might seem tight, the wins of the Frenchman came all the way back in 2014. Marcos Giron has had his number of late and typically, if you can get into a rhythm against Mannarino’s unusual approach, that’s something that should stay with you.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Main photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
