Rio de Janeiro R1 previews and predictions: Baez vs. Bellucci, Norrie vs. Cerundolo

Cameron Norrie will be getting right back in action following a runner-up performance in Buenos Aries when he takes the court in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. Norrie is facing Juan Manuel Cerunolo, while Sebastian Baez takes on Thomaz Bellucci.

(WC) Thomaz Bellucci vs. (6) Sebastian Baez

Bellucci is calling it career at the 2023 Rio Open, so the last match of his career could–and almost certainly will–come on Tuesday night. The 35-year-old Brazilian has played sparingly in recent seasons, which is why he is down at No. 915 in the rankings. Bellucci has not won a main-draw match at any level (main tour, Challengers, or Futures) since June of 2021; he has lost seven such matches in a row. The former world No. 21 has not won a match at the ATP level since the Buenos Aires opening round in February of 2018.

In his final tournament the draw has not done Bellucci any favors. Up first for him is Baez, who kicked off the Golden Swing with a title in Cordoba. The 22-year-old Argentine lost right away last week in Buenos Aires, but that means he will be well rested to make another run in Rio de Janeiro. Possibly on his way to becoming one of the best clay-courters on tour, Baez should bring about a swift end to Bellucci’s career.

Pick: Baez in 2

(LL) Juan Manuel Cerundolo vs. (2) Cameron Norrie

Norrie will be making a quick turnaround after finishing runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in Buenos Aires on Sunday. Fortunately for the 13th-ranked Brit, both his semifinal and final matches ended in straight sets and lasted fewer than two hours; he should have no problem getting back in gear for Rio de Janeiro. And despite Sunday’s disappointment, Norrie watched his TCU Horned Frogs win the NCAA indoor championship on Monday.

Up first for the second seed on Tuesday is an all-lefty showdown against Cerundolo, who fell in qualifying but got a lucky-loser spot in the main draw when Federico Coria withdrew. A 6-2, 6-3 loss to Nicolas Jarry this past weekend does not bode well at all for the 21-year-old Argentine’s chances. It should also be noted that Cerundolo has not defeated anyone in the top 100 other than an ice-cold Diego Schwartzman so far this season. An underrate clay-court player, Norrie should roll.

Pick: Norrie in 2