There is an outstanding entry list for the ATP 500 event in Acapulco. That is demonstrated by the quality of the eight matches scheduled for the opening day. Four of these contests are predicted in this article. The other four matches on the first day in Acapulco are predicted in a separate article, including Tommy Paul vs Jack Draper. Which players do you think will advance?
ATP Acapulco Day 1 Predictions
Nuno Borges vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: First meeting
Nishioka is in the main draw as a lucky loser. Frankly, he was far below his best in a 2-6 6-1 0-6 defeat to Michael Mmoh in the final round of qualifying. By contrast, Borges looked far more comfortable in the Mexican conditions last week in Los Cabos. He made the quarterfinal, before being stopped by the eventual runner-up Casper Ruud. Nishioka’s style of play does not seem to translate particularly well in the conditions, and I think Borges has a good chance of winning at the ATP Acapulco Open.
Prediction: Borges in 2
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Flavio Cobolli
Head-to-head: First meeting
Cobolli was the No. 1 seed in qualifying and came through to the main draw, although he was not always convincing. Last year’s Basel champion, Auger-Aliassime, has also not been fully convincing this season. He has been so inconsistent in the last 12 months, and predicting his matches is difficult. At his best, he is certainly a better hard-court player than Cobolli. The Canadian probably will find enough of his best to win at the ATP Acapulco Open, but an upset is never out of the question when it comes to Auger-Aliassime.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2
Alex de Minaur vs Taro Daniel
Head-to-head: de Minaur 2-0 Daniel
It may have been a mistake for last year’s Queen’s finalist de Minaur to play in Los Cabos last week. He reached the final in Rotterdam just a few days previously, and he was very flat in his defeat to Alex Michelsen. After five days off, the Australian is very unlikely to play like that again. Expect de Minaur to progress relatively comfortably at the ATP Acapulco Open. Daniel is a fighter who will give everything. However, he does not have any weapons to cause de Minaur enough trouble.
Prediction: de Minaur in 2
Taylor Fritz vs Matteo Arnaldi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Arnaldi is a tricky opponent. He will get a lot of balls back into play in this contest and will try and attack with his forehand when he can. Is that going to be enough to upset Fritz? An upset is not impossible, but it is very unlikely. Fritz is coming into this event after winning the title in Delray Beach. Admittedly, the conditions are different at the ATP Acapulco Open, and Fritz will need to adjust. Yet, he is still likely to have too much firepower for the Italian to handle.
Prediction: Fritz in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
