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The fourth day of main draw action at the 2023 Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday (February 23) will feature six second-round matches. Four seeded players and a qualifier will be in action.
On a busy Wednesday following a rain-marred previous day, six first-round and two second-round matches were completed. The likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Sebastian Baez, Albert-Ramos Vinolas and Cameron Norrie moved through to the next round.
Without further ado, here's a look at how the six second-round matches could pan out at the Rio Open on Thursday:
#1 Bernabe Zapata Miralles vs Francisco Cerundolo
Bernabe Zapata Miralles will take on fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the Rio Open quarterfinals.
The 63rd-ranked Zapata Miralles is 5-4 on the season, while World No. 33 Cerundolo is 7-5. Zapata Miralles beat Cerundolo in their only previous meeting at the Argentina Open quarterfinals last week. Expect the Argentine to take this one.
Prediction: Francisco Cerundolo in three sets.
#2 Carlos Alcaraz (Defending Rio Open winner) vs Fabio Fognini
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns with Italian Fabio Fognini for a place in the last eight at the Rio Open.
World No. 2 Alcaraz opened his title defense with a straight-sets win on Wednesday to improve to 5-0 in 2023. Meanwhile, the 86th-ranked Fognini got off the mark for the season earlier this week in his fourth attempt.
Alcaraz took the pair's only meeting in the Rio Open semifinals last year en route to the title and should repeat the trick.
Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
#3 Laslo Djere vs Dusan Lajovic
In an all-Serbian second-round clash, 2019 winner Laslo Djere will take on compatriot Dusan Lajovic.
The 57th-ranked Djere is 7-4 on the season, while World No. 80 Lajovic is 4-3. Djere has taken two of the pair's three previous meetings and should emerge victorious once again in this clash.
Prediction: Laslo Djere in three sets.
#4 Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Daniel Elahi Galan
Seventh seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas will take on Daniel Elahi Galan for a place in the last eight in Rio de Janeiro.
World No. 47 Ramos-Vinolas is 3-6 in 2023, while the 88th-ranked Elahi Galan opened his account for the season on his fifth attempt. Expect the left-handed Spaniard to win this first-time matchup.
Prediction: Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets.
#5 Nicolas Jarry vs Pedro Martinez
Qualifier Nicolas Jarry faces Spaniard Pedro Martinez as he eyes a last-eight berth in Rio de Janeiro.
The 139th-ranked Jarry improved to 3-1 in 2023 by upsetting third seed Lorenzo Musetti in his opener. Meanwhile, World No. 76 Martinez is 3-4 on the season after beating Jarry's compatriot Cristian Garin in the first round.
Martinez took the pair's lone meeting in Kitzbuhel last year and should repeat the trick.
Prediction: Pedro Martinez in straight sets.
#6 Juan Pablo Varillas vs Sebastian Baez
Juan Pablo Varillas will take on sixth seed Sebastian Baez to complete the quarterfinal lineup at the Rio Open.
World No. 81 Varillas is 4-3 in 2023, while the 35th-ranked Baez is 5-4 after beating the retiring Thomaz Bellucci.
Baez took their lone meeting in Santiago last year and should emerge triumphant again.
Prediction: Sebastian Baez in straight sets.
