Could this be a match between two future Grand Slam champions? Maybe “just” two future Top 10 players? Whatever it is, Arthur Fils and Joao Fonseca at the ATP Rio Open will be an awesome glimpse into the future of men’s tennis. The 2021 Roland Garros boys’ singles runner-up takes on the 2023 US Open boys’ singles champion. Who do you think will prevail?
ATP Rio de Janeiro Day 2 Predictions
Felipe Meligeni Alves vs Pedro Cachin
Head-to-head: First meeting
Felipe Meligeni Alves did very well to qualify beating a couple of tricky lefties. Undeniably, the Brazilian has a very high ceiling when he’s on and needs to keep up that momentum now. This is actually a very nice draw for him as Pedro Cachin lost his last nine matches, including five in 2024 already. He’s usually not that good on slower clay either, instead preferring the faster altitude courts. Meligeni Alves can blast through it all and might just hand Cachin his tenth consecutive losses, but it’s certainly close.
Prediction: Meligeni Alves in 3
Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Stan Wawrinka
Head-to-head: First meeting
Stan Wawrinka was so close to eliminating Nicolas Jarry in the second round at Buenos Aires, which really could have changed the course of the tournament. But the quality was there from the Swiss and he was also more physically durable than of late. He’ll need it here to overcome the recent Buenos Aires champion, who had a magical week at home. Facundo Diaz Acosta has enough quality not to be a one-tournament-wonder, but following it up right away could be tough and Wawrinka was hitting well too.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 3
Yannick Hanfmann vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: Jarry 2-1
Their quarterfinal in Santiago last year was a high-quality affair with Nicolas Jarry eventually picking up the title there. Their one match on non-altitude clay was actually won by Yannick Hanfmann in Rome though, so maybe this gives the German something to look forward to here. But overall it seems that Jarry will be going more or less in line with his last year’s results in 2024, while Hanfmann isn’t looking quite as sharp. Unless he has another one of these erratic days like in the Buenos Aires final, the Chilean’s the favorite.
Prediction: Jarry in 2
Federico Coria vs Mariano Navone
Head-to-head: Navone 3-1
These two met three times in the latter half of the 2023 season and all of these clashes were taken by Mariano Navone. In a way, he was playing like an improved version of Federico Coria with more attacking arsenal. Is that completely gone this year? No, but certainly the 22-year-old hasn’t taken the chances that the Golden Swing presented for him so far. Coria, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back semifinals. Navone will need to find that form again quickly, maybe the good memories from this matchup can revive him.
Prediction: Navone in 3
Arthur Fils vs Joao Fonseca
Head-to-head: First meeting
Joao Fonseca is incredibly talented and the year-end junior No. 1 has already posted plenty of excellent wins on the ATP Challenger Tour. The inexperience is definitely a problem for him as he just tries to rely on his huge ball-striking and doesn’t have a knack for constructing rallies yet. This might be a matchup where he enjoys himself a bit more since he’s likely not going to be forced to think too much. For now, Arthur Fils is simply way more complete. But this should be much better than Fonseca’s Rio showing from last year.
Prediction: Fils in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
