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The second stop in the 2023 Golden Swing is the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, which starts on Monday (February 13).
The ATP 250 tournament marks the return of former World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz after an injury layoff. Cameron Norrie, Lorenzo Musetti and home hopeful Diego Schwartzman round out the top four seeds. Apart from Alcaraz, the field features another Grand Slam champion, Dominic Thiem, who has received a wildcard.
On the first day of main-draw action at the Argentina Open, seven unseeded players and a wildcard will be in action. Without further ado, here's a look at the predictions for the four matches:
#1 Pedro Martinez vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
In an all-Spanish first-round battle, Pedro Martinez will take on his compatriot Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
The 72nd-ranked Martinez is 2-2 on the season and is coming off a first-round loss at the Australian Open after making the Pune quarterfinals. Meanwhile, World No. 76 Zapata Miralles is looking for his first win of the season after stumbling in the opening round in Pune and the Australian Open.
The two Spaniards will meet for the first time on the ATP Tour. Expect Martinez to prevail in a tight affair.
Prediction: Martinez in three sets
#2 Thiago Monteiro vs Pedro Cachin
Thiago Monteiro will open his Argentina Open campaign against home hope Pedro Cachin.
The 78th-ranked Monteiro has made an underwhelming start to the season, going 1-5 on the year, including an opening-round loss in Cordoba last week. Meanwhile, the World No. 66 has fared worse as he's winless in five matches in 2023, including a first-round defeat in Cordoba.
The two players have never met before, but Monteiro should take this one in straight sets.
Prediction: Monteiro in straight sets
#3 Fabio Fognini vs Laslo Djere
Fabio Fognini will look to open his account for the season in his third attempt when he takes on Serbian Laslo Djere in the opening round at the Argentina Open.
The 58th-ranked Fognini fell in the first round in Auckland and the Australian Open, while World No. 66 Djere is 5-3 on the season, having made the Auckland quarterfinals last month.
Fognini and Djere have split their two previous meetings, but the Italian won their last meeting at Wimbledon in 2021. The Serb, though, took their lone meeting on clay in Geneva earlier that year and should repeat that result again.
Prediction: Djere in straight sets
#4 Jaume Munar vs Guido Pella
Spaniard Jaume Munar will open his Argentina Open campaign against home hope Guido Pella.
The 65th-ranked Munar is winless in three matches this year, while World No. 1018 Pella, who received a wild card, made the Round of 16 in Cordoba last week.
Pella won his lone meeting against Munar in the Buenos Aires quarterfinals four years ago and should repeat the trick again.
Prediction: Pella in three sets
