ATP Acapulco: Preview and Predictions
ATP Acapulco: Preview and Predictions
David Ferrer won the ATP Rio Open this past week and Ivo Karlovic took the title at the ATP Delray Beach Open. Both those champions are in the field at the ATP Acapulco Abierto Mexicano Telcel. Ferrer and Karlovic are joined by the likes of Kei Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, and Alexandr Dolgopolov, and defending champion Grigor Dimitrov.
For a look at the whole draw in Acapulco, click here.
No.1 seed Kei Nishikori’s Quarter
No matter who he faces, Nishikori should move through and it will be a disappointment for him if he doesn’t.
Nishikori is coming off a win at the Memphis Open two weeks ago. As the top seed, he is the favorite in Acapulco. Ranked No.5 in the world, Nishikori is on the heels of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray and has no points to defend this week.
He could face Yen-Hsun Lu, who took out Anderson in Delray Beach, in the second round. On the other side of this section, four strong players will vie for a spot in the quarters: Robin Haase, Andreas Haider-Maurer, Sam Groth, and No.5 seed Alexandr Doglopolov. No matter who he faces, Nishikori should move through and it will be a disappointment for him if he doesn’t.
Prediciton: Nishikori
No.4 seed Kevin Anderson’s Quarter
Kevin Anderson has been a busy guy. After losing in the final at Memphis, he drove through the snow to get to Delray Beach in time for his first round match and now finds himself in Mexico. He starts off against Dustin Brown and should ride his serve to the next round, where he would face the winner of Steve Johnson and Ivan Dodig.
No.7 seed Santiago Giraldo will likely face Viktor Troicki in the second round on the other side. Troicki has a good hard court game and can pull an upset.
Perdiction: Troicki
No.3 seed Grigor Dimitrov’s Quarter
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After a good start to the year in January, Dimitrov lost early two weeks ago in Rotterdam. As the defending champion, Dimitrov will be holding many expectations, not to mention the 500 rankings points. Dimotrov should face Donald Young in the second round. Young has had a great two weeks in Memphis and Delray beach, but Dimitrov is a step above.
No.6 seed Ivo Karlovic should have no problem riding his big serve and long net game to the quarterfinals. He will be an interesting test for Dimitrov, who has the game to come up with the passing shots and returns necessary to defeat the big Croat.
Prediction: Dimitrov
No.2 seed David Ferrer’s Quarter
Ferrer is coming off a win in Rio and is a three time champion in Acapulco. In the second round, Ferrer would face the winner of a hot contest between Marinko Matosevic and Marcel Granollers. Whoever wins will be too gassed to give Ferrer a good match.
No.8 seed Bejamin Becker will be in trouble when he faces the winner of Bernard Tomic and Adrian Mannarino, the two losing semifinalists in Delray Beach. Tomic will get two wins, but won’t get past the beast that is Ferrer.
Prediction: Ferrer
Semifinal Predictions: Nishikori over Troicki, Dimitrov over Ferrer
Final Predictions: Nishikori over Dimitrov
Next: ATP Dubai Preview & Predictions
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