Facundo Diaz Acosta will get right back in action after winning his first ATP title when he faces Stan Wawrinka in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. Top seed Carlos Alcaraz and wild card Thiago Monteiro are also on the schedule.
Facundo Diaz Acosta vs. Stan Wawrinka
Diaz Acosta and Wawrinka will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Rio Open on Tuesday. Wawrinka has made no secret that he really wants to win another title–one that would presumably be his last–before he retires; Diaz Acosta just won his first this past Sunday in Buenos Aires. Needless to say, this is a matchup between two players at very different stages of their professional lives.
Wawrinka may be on his last legs at 38 years old, but he still registers at a decent 67th in the rankings. The Swiss is a former French Open and Monte-Carlo champion, so even though he is well past his prime he can never be discounted on clay. Diaz Acosta is up to No. 59 in the world thanks mostly to his triumph in front of the Argentine crowd. The 23-year-old is undoubtedly the better player at this point in their respective careers, but the physical and mental toll of the past week could be too much of a factor to overcome.
Pick: Wawrinka in 3
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(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (WC) Thiago Monteiro
Alcaraz has plenty of points to defend coming up in Indian Wells (win), Miami (semifinals), Barcelona (win), and Madrid (win) in what has become a four-man race for the No. 1 ranking. However, the Spaniard does have a chance to gain some in Rio de Janeiro, where he is the favorite to capture the title but lost in the final last year to Cameron Norrie. Most importantly, Alcaraz is simply looking to emerge from a relative slump–at least a slump by his lofty standards. He still has not lifted a winner’s trophy since Wimbledon after falling to Nicolas Jarry in the Buenos Aires semifinals.
Up first for the top seed on Tuesday is Monteiro, who actually leads the main-draw head-to-head series 1-0. The Brazilian left-hander prevailed 7-6(3), 6-3 three years ago at an ATP 250 in Melbourne before Alcaraz cruised 6-2, 6-3 later that season in Cincinnati Masters qualifying. Given Alcaraz’s lackluster form and his own home-court advantage, Monteiro would normally have a chance to be competitive in this matchup. However, he is also playing poorly these days. The 29-year-old has dipped to No. 117 in the rankings and has played in just two events this season (not including Davis Cup), losing in the quarterfinals of a Challenger and in Buenos Aires qualifying.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
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