Tata Open Maharashtra 2023: Marin Cilic vs Roberto Carballes Baena preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (1) Marin Cilic vs Roberto Carballes Baena

Date: January 1, 2023

Tournament: Tata Open Maharashtra

Round: Second round (Round of 16)

Venue: Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, Adelaide, Australia

Category: ATP 250

Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt

Prize money: $642,735

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Tennis TV | India - Sports 18 & Jio Cinema

Marin Cilic vs Roberto Carballes Baena preview

Marin Cilic will open his 2023 season with a second-round encounter against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune.

Cilic, the top seed at the tournament, was last seen in action in November when he suffered a surprise first-round exit at the Paris Masters, losing out to Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti.

The 2014 US Open champion comes into the new year on a three-match losing streak, going back to the second round in Astana. He will be keen to put the disappointing end to an otherwise successful season behind him as he takes to the court in Pune.

Baena, meanwhile, comes into the encounter already having scored a win against countryman Bernabe Zapata Miralles — his first main draw victory on the ATP tour in many months.

The win would have come as a big boost for Carballes Baena, who spent a significant amount of time competing on the Challenger circuit last year in a bid to get his ranking back up. Playing a top opponent like Cilic this early in the year, however, could prove to be an entirely different proposition.

Marin Cilic vs Roberto Carballes Baena head-to-head

Cilic and Carballes Baena have never played each other on the Tour before, so their current head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.

Marin Cilic vs Roberto Carballes Baena odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Marin Cilic
Roberto Carballes Baena

(Odds will be added once they're available)

Marin Cilic vs Roberto Carballes Baena prediction

Cilic will be looking to make a strong start to the new season.

Given the huge gulf in the world rankings and recent form, Cilic will enter the encounter as an overwhelming favorite to win. The Croat enjoys playing on hardcourts and has a powerful baseline-oriented game that is tailor-made for the surface. He will rely heavily on the serve and forehand to win him quick points.

For Carballes Baena, the key will be to rely on his ability to hang around in rallies long enough to frustrate his opponent. Staying too passive, however, is unlikely to get him over the line against an aggressive opponent like Cilic. Unless he can find a way to upset his opponent's rhythm by mixing the spin and length on his shot, the Spaniard risks being blown away by Cilic's firepower.

Prediction: Cilic to win in straight sets.

About the author

Vedant is an experienced journalist at Sportskeeda, having been part of the team since 2016. Known for his insightful coverage of Tennis, Hockey, and Olympic sports at the company, he has also been contributing to the Hindustan Times for the past 3 years.

Holding a Master's degree in English, and a PG Diploma in Print Journalism, Vedant's academic background equips him well for his journalism endeavors. He has covered the Olympics qualifiers on the ground, taken exclusive interviews with multiple Indian Olympians, and clinched Sportskeeda's prestigious Writer Award for Best Olympics Commentator in 2021.

While Vedant remains neutral on the Tennis GOAT debate, he holds a deep admiration for Tsvetana Pironkova and Petra Kvitova for their unparallelled grasscourt skills and personalities, along with Juan Martin del Potro. As for tournaments, his heart is undeniably drawn to Wimbledon, and when asked why, he simply states, "There's something about the grass."

Beyond his passion for sports, he enjoys traveling and has a soft spot for good movies.

Know More

Edited by Anirudh Velamuri