Rafael Nadal will continue his bid for a first Acapulco title on hard courts when he faces Miomir Kecmanovic on Wednesday. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Kyle Edmund are also part of the second-round schedule.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. Miomir Kecmanovic
Nadal’s first tournament since the Australian Open–the Abierto Mexicano Telcel–got off to a decent enough start on Tuesday night. The second-ranked Spaniard briefly fell behind countryman Pablo Andujar 2-0 in the opening set but quickly restored order to the proceedings en route to a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Nadal is a mediocre 9-3 for his 2020 campaign, with ATP Cup losses to Novak Djokovic and David Goffin in addition to an Australian Open quarterfinal setback against Dominic Thiem.
Next up for the top seed on Wednesday night is a first-ever meeting with Kecmanovic. The 20-year-old Serb is up to No. 50 in the world and he did well to overcome a talented but rusty Alex de Minaur 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Monday. Kecmanovic already owns eight match wins this season, including semifinal showings in Doha and New York. Although Kecmanovic should make this more competitive than what Andujar managed, he has never faced a top-five opponent and will likely be in for a rude awakening.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8-10 games
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(4) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Kyle Edmund
Auger-Aliassime and Edmund will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Wednesday. Both players are in stellar form–especially Auger-Aliassime, for whom this hot streak has come out of nowhere. The 19-year-old Canadian slumped at the end of last season and again in January, but February has been outstanding. He reached the fourth and fifth finals of his career in Rotterdam and Marseille, albeit remaining winless in such situations. Auger-Aliassime got right back in action two days later in Acapulco and held off lucky loser Alex Bolt 6-3, 7-6(5).
Edmund is coming off his second ATP title in New York, which was preceded by a quarterfinal performance in Auckland. The 44th-ranked Brit skipped Delray Beach, so he is well-rested for Acapulco (much unlike Auger-Aliassime). Edmund crushed Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-1 on Monday, firing 11 aces without getting broken a single time. In this form, he will likely take advantage of an opponent who has to be running on fumes.
Pick: Edmund in 2
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WYG?
Kecmanovic is playing pretty well so far this year, has wins over Humbert and now De Minaur, he should not be over awed by Nadal at all and will likely be going for it, will certainly be tougher than Andujar, so this match will not be so easy for Rafa, Rafa takes it 7-6, 6-4.
Edmund’s form is overrated, had a pretty sweet draw in New York, got the title cause Seppi was hurting, this is outdoors now too, Lopez is a pretty easy win nowadays, FAA had a better than expected match yesterday, FAA with enough in the tank to win in 3.
Today’s Dubai picks: Herbert over Evans, Tsitsipas over Bublik, Khachanov over Novak, Struff over Basilashvili, Paire over Gasquet, Monfils over Uchiyama.
Santiago picks: Delbonis over Caruso, Cuevas over Olivo, Dellien over Barrios Vera in 3, Ruud over Tabilo in 2.
Acapulco picks: Lajovic over Kwon in 3, Isner over Giron in 3, Zverev over Paul in 3, Humbert over Fritz in 2, Dimitrov over Mannarino in 2, Wawrinka over Martinez in 2.
Here is my Dubai post that did not work:
Khachanov has really fallen off as a nextgen, not playing that well anymore, Nole gets this done quick 6-3, 6-4.
Evans has not played well here, Rublev takes it 6-3, 6-4.
Other Dubai picks: Tsitsipas over Struff in 3, Monfils over Gasquet in 2.
Kecmanovic is playing pretty well so far this year, has wins over Humbert and now De Minaur, he should not be over awed by Nadal at all and will likely be going for it, will certainly be tougher than Andujar, so this match will not be so easy for Rafa, Rafa takes it 7-6, 6-4.
Edmund’s form is overrated, had a pretty sweet draw in New York, got the title cause Seppi was hurting, this is outdoors now too, Lopez is a pretty easy win nowadays, FAA had a better than expected match yesterday, FAA with enough in the tank to win in 3.
Today’s Dubai picks: Herbert over Evans, Tsitsipas over Bublik, Khachanov over Novak, Struff over Basilashvili, Paire over Gasquet, Monfils over Uchiyama.
Santiago picks: Delbonis over Caruso, Cuevas over Olivo, Dellien over Barrios Vera in 3, Ruud over Tabilo in 2.
Acapulco picks: Lajovic over Kwon in 3, Isner over Giron in 3, Zverev over Paul in 3, Humbert over Fritz in 2, Dimitrov over Mannarino in 2, Wawrinka over Martinez in 2.
Keep calm, stay confident, be strong and show your fighting spirit, Rafa!
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