Day 4 action continues at ATP Bucharest with seven second-round matches. Romania’s capital has welcomed a terrific crop of players to its grounds, including No. 3 seed Sebastian Korda, who takes on Gregoire Barrere on Thursday. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the grounds of Bucharest. But who will advance to the quarterfinals?
ATP Bucharest Day 4 Predictions
Pedro Martinez vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Just three spots separate Pedro Martinez and Miomir Kecmanoic in the current world rankings, setting us up for a terrific second round at ATP Bucharest. Martinez is 10-1 in his last eleven matches, including a Challenger title in Girona. The 26-year-old Spaniard finally seems to be putting it all together as he approaches a new career-high rankings. Kecmanovic, on the other hand, is just 2-5 since the beginning. I have to go with the in-form player in this one.
Prediction: Martinez in 2
Mariano Navone vs Thiago Seyboth Wild
Head-to-Head: Navone 2-1 Seyboth Wild
It has been a quick accent up the rankings for 23-year-old Mariano Navone. The Argentine played his first career tour-level match in February; he is 8-5 since then. Navone is a terrific clay-court player and has shown that by reaching the final in Rio and semis in Marrakech. He is a win away from at least the quarterfinals in three of his first five ATP events. He squares off against Thiago Seyboth Wild at ATP Bucharest. The 24-year-old Brazilian has also been playing blistering tennis lately, winning eight matches during the Sunshine Double (including qualies). Expect many long, drawn-out points between these two. In the end, I give the slight edge to Seyboth Wild and the power with which he hits the ball.
Prediction: Seyboth Wild in 3
Sebastian Korda vs Gregoire Barrere
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Don’t forget about Sebastian Korda. The No. 3 seed is just 11-10 on the season but has been getting healthier and could very well be in for a strong clay season. He begins his Bucharest campaign against qualifier Gregoire Barrere. The 30-year-old Frenchman has not played well this year but has managed to string together three wins in a row this week. That said, he does not have the form nor the power to match someone as creative as Korda.
Prediction: Korda in 2
Main Photo Credit/Syndication – Palm Beach Post
