Defending Argentina Open champion Rafael Nadal leads a stacked field to Buenos Aires along with three time Buenos Aires champion David Ferrer and Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as the ATP World Tour moves into the Latin American Golden Swing.
ATP Buenos Aires Tournament Overview
The Argentina Open is the second stop on the Latin American Golden Swing, following last week's action at another ATP 250 in Quito. The Argentina Open is held at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, known as the "Cathedral of Argentinian Tennis." Previous champions include Argentine greats Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian, and Gaston Gaudio. Since 2009, Spaniards have dominated the event, winning every edition since Tommy Robredo's 2009 win. David Ferrer returns to an event he is very comfortable at, winning in 2012, 2013, and 2014, before having to pull out in 2015. Top seed Rafael Nadal returns as defending champion, looking to keep his Buenos Aires title and hold off stiff opposition to retain it.
First Quarter
Top seed Rafael Nadal leads the first quarter, with number seven seed Alexandr Dolgopolov at the bottom of this quarter. Nadal will open up against either a qualifier or Argentinian Juan Monaco. Nadal and Monaco are very good friends, with both of them contesting last year's final, with Nadal coming out on top. Dolgopolov opens against another Argentinian Diego Schwartzman in the first round. Expect both Nadal and Dolgopolov to make it through to the quarterfinals, with the top seed coming out on top.
Semifinalist: Nadal
Second Quarter
American number four seed John Isner headlines the second quarter, with number five seed Dominic Thiem at the bottom of the quarter. Isner would open up against either Serbian Dusan Lajovic or the big hitting Spanish lefty Fernando Verdasco. Isner has a tough opening round here, and with clay being the American's least favorite surface, do not be surprised if the American crashes out early. Five seed Dominic Thiem opens up against Spanish youngster Pablo Carreno Busta. With Thiem being a talented clay court player and having a fairly easy draw, expect Thiem to make the semis.
Semifinalist: Thiem
Third Quarter
French number three seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga headlines this quarter, with Italian number six seed Fabio Fognini also in this section. The Frenchmen opens up against either Argentinian Leonardo Mayer or another Agrentinian Guido Pella. Mayer is one of the most talented unseeded players on tour, and would be sure to give the big hitting Frenchmen a run for his money. Fognini opens against Argentinian lefty Federico Delbonis. Tsonga and Fognini should both make it through to a block buster quarterfinal between two of the most flashy and mercurial players on tour. Tsonga leads the head-to-head 4-0, with their last meeting coming a few weeks ago in Auckland. Expect Tsonga's power to be too much for the Italian and for the Frenchmen to move through to the semifinals.
Semifinalist: Tsonga
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Fourth Quarter
Number two seed David Ferrer headlines the final quarter, with number eight seed Pablo Cuevas also in this fourth quarter. Ferrer, a three time Buenos Aires champion, opens up against either a qualifier or Argentinian Renzo Olivo. Cuevas opens up against Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Ferrer has a very good section, and look for the three time champion to capitalize on it, and move into the semifinals free of difficulty.
Semifinalist: David Ferrer
Predictions:
Semifinals: Nadal def. Thiem, Ferrer def. Tsonga
Final: Nadal def. Ferrer