It will be an all-Spanish affair when Pablo Carreno Busta and David Ferrer clash in the Auckland second round on Wednesday. Joao Sousa and Cameron Norrie are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(4) Pablo Carreno Busta vs. (WC) David Ferrer
Carreno Busta and Ferrer are separated by exactly 100 spots in the rankings as they prepare for a second-round showdown at the ASB Classic on Wednesday night. It should be a lot more competitive than that. Ferrer, who has slumped to No. 24 in the world and is planning for retirement later this year, appears to have put in plenty of work during the offseason with an impressive start to his 2019 campaign. The 36-year-old Spaniard played well at last week’s Hopman Cup before destroying Robin Haase 6-2, 6-1 in his Auckland opener on Tuesday.
This marks the fourth career contest between the two countrymen, with Ferrer leading the head-to-head series 2-1. They most recently faced each other for the first time on hard courts at the 2017 Cincinnati Masters, where Ferrer cruised 6-4, 6-4. Carreno Busta ended up making a debut appearance in the Nitto ATP Finals that season, but he took a step back in 2018. He is down to No. 24 in the rankings and playing his first match of this year on Wednesday. A more confident and battle-tested Ferrer should have a good opportunity to continue his encouraging January progress.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
[polldaddy poll=10208428]
(WC) Cameron Norrie vs. Joao Sousa
Sousa and Norrie will be squaring off for the first time in their careers with a spot in the Auckland quarterfinals at stake. Perhaps the best tennis of the entire first round was produced Sousa, who had to go up against seventh-seeded Denis Shapovalov and prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Portuguese world No. 44 just barely missed out on snagging a seed this week, but he should be in the mix for such distinctions–even at Grand Slams–with a few more performances like the one he delivered against Shapovalov.
Norrie booked his spot in the last 16 by beating Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2 on Monday. The former college standout (TCU) enjoyed a stellar first full year on tour in 2018, earning 19 ATP-level match victories while climbing inside the top 100 (currently No. 93 in the world). Unfortunately for Norrie, he is a bit of a counter-puncher–which may not work well against Sousa, who can implement the same tactics and do so with even more effectiveness.
Pick: Sousa in 3
[polldaddy poll=10208846]
WYG?
Ferrer, in 2 or 3, with fingers crossed. Ferrer’s problem, he says, is not that he can no longer play great tennis, but that he can no longer string good matches together, or do the amount of training required for top level tennis. Body just can’t take it any more. But I’d love to see him get one last title here! Not that it really matters: he’s got a wife, a baby son, a puppy, a tennis academy, and the respect of his peers. Life after tennis will be good for him.
Ferrer in 2
Ferrer in two , Sousa in three.