It will be an all-Argentine affair when Juan Martin Del Potro and Federico Delbonis collide in front of the Buenos Aires faithful on Tuesday. Another marquee matchup features up-and-coming wild cards Holger Rune and Sebastian Baez.
(WC) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. (6) Federico Delbonis
Del Potro will make his long-awaited return to tennis when he takes the court in round one of the Argentina Open on Tuesday night. The 33-year-old Argentine has not played since 2019, when he suffered a knee injury at Queen’s Club. Del Potro has been unable to recover since, as his career continues to be a what-could-have-been question because of so many physical problems.
It remains to be seen how long the 2009 U.S. Open champion’s comeback lasts; he says likely not more than two tournaments or perhaps even just this one. It may last only one match. Delbonis will be on the other side of the net on Tuesday for their second head-to-head encounter. Del Potro won the first meeting 7-6(5), 6-3 at the 2017 Indian Wells Masters. Delbonis comes in at 42nd in the rankings thanks to hot streak on clay last spring highlighted by a quarterfinal performance in Rome and a fourth-round run at the French Open. Del Potro is obviously a sentimental favorite, but it’s hard to see him playing well enough in his first match to beat a strong clay-courter like his countryman.
Pick: Delbonis in 2
(WC) Sebastian Baez vs. (WC) Holger Rune
Rune and Baez are very much at the other end of the career spectrum. Baez played in the NextGen ATP Finals last season and you can expect to see Rune there at the end of 2022. Somewhat surprisingly, they have already faced each other twice–both times on the red clay of Santiago. Rune won 6-3, 6-2 at the ATP 250, while Baez cruised via a similar 6-2, 6-4 scoreline at the Challenger level.
Although Rune is a much bigger name due to his huge junior success, Baez owns a considerable edge in current form. The 74th-ranked Argentine has already won four ATP-level matches this season and lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in a tight four-setter at the Australian Open. Rune is a dreadful 0-3 on the main tour so far this year. Given that Baez also has home-court advantage in front of what will be a raucous Argentine crowd, you have to like his chances.
Pick: Baez in 2
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Baez and Delpo in three