ATP Buenos Aires: Miomir Kecmanovic vs Thiago Monteiro 3/3/2021 Tennis Prediction

Fourth seeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic will face Thiago Monteiro of Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 2021 Buenos Aires Open. The match is scheduled to be played on Wednesday February 3rd, 2021 at a time yet to be determined. They have played once before with Kecmanovic leading the head to head series 1-0. Who will win and advance to the Quarter-Finals?

Miomir Kecmanovic is currently ranked #42 and is considered one of the most promising young players on the ATP Tour. He had a breakout season last year, winning his first ATP Title in Kitzbuhel last September. He has a very solid baseline game with no real weaknesses and has improved steadily each year. However, his 2021 season has not gotten off to a strong start. After a disappointing Australian Open campaign where he lost in the Second Round to Adrian Mannarino, he has not found the going on clay to be much easier, being upset in the Round of 16 at the Cordoba Open by eventual champion, Juan Manuel Cerundolo. He will be hoping to have a much improved showing here in Buenos Aires and will be looking to his new coach David Nalbandian for inspiration. Despire his poor form he enters this match as the favorite against a dangerous clay court opponent. 

Thiago Monteiro is currently ranked a career high #74 and is in great form so far in 2021. He reached the Semi-Finals in Adelaide and like Kecmanovic, lost to Cerundolo in Cordoba but at the Quarter-Final stage. He is a powerful left handed baseliner with the ability to wear opponents down, especially on this surface. He has five challenger titles on this surface and will be backing himself to win here despite the gulf in the rankings due to his experience and comfort level on this surface. 

I expect this to be a close match but I think that Monteiro will spring the upset and win here. Kecmanovic has not looked great in his transition to clay and Monteiro has bags of experience on the surface. Additionally, he is right at home in the South American swing and is very used to these conditions. Three sets is likely, and expect Monteiro to come out on top.