Between the Australian Open and the Sunshine Double, the ATP tour once again detours to clay in the South American golden swing, with ATP Buenos Aires kicking things off. As always, LWOT will offer predictions for every match, but who do you think will advance?
ATP Buenos Aires Day 1
Damir Dzumhur vs Hugo Dellien
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both players have game styles that are better rewarded on clay, as they are willing baseliners who look to extract errors from opponents rather than go for outright winners. While Hugo Dellien has played well in the qualifiers here, Damir Dzumhur still has the higher upside and overall ball quality, and should win this match.
Prediction: Dzumhur in 3
Lautaro Midon vs Pedro Martinez
Head-to-head: First meeting
Lautaro Midon impressed enough in the qualifiers to earn himself a first-ever ATP main-draw match in his native country, but Pedro Martinez is likely to be a significant step up in competition for the Argentine. Expect Martinez’s baseline consistency, point construction, and varied ball spins to pose a challenge that is simply too big for Midon to overcome here.
Prediction: Martinez in 2
Alex Barrena vs Vit Kopriva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Vit Kopriva’s defensive scrambling and willingness to stay on the baseline make clay his most preferred surface on tour, one where his return and forehand get enough time to operate and cover up the holes in his game. Against another ATP Tour debutant in wildcard Alex Barrena, the more experienced player should be able to overcome both his opponent and the passionate crowd against him.
Prediction: Kopriva in 3
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Andrea Pellegrino
Head-to-head: First meeting
Arguably, the match of the day pits one of the top-ranked local players, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, up against qualifier Andrea Pellegrino. Although Pellegrino’s game translates best on clay, a surface he has openly stated as his preference, the same can be said for Etcheverry, whose long limbs and potent groundstrokes, especially his forehand, get as much pop on the red clay as on any other surface. I see the overall better player winning in front of his home fans here.
Prediction: Etcheverry in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports