Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Stan Wawrinka Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Rio Open

Prediction published on 19/02/2024, 06:39  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/02/2024 at 07:39 in Tennis Predictions

Facundo Diaz Acosta looks to build on winning the title in Buenos Aires on Sunday. He has a tricky first round match in the clay court Rio Open as he faces Stan Wawrinka. For the winner there's a second round match against either fifth seed Sebastian Baez or qualifier Corentin Moutet. Acosta is now a career high 59th in the latest rankings, a rise of 28 places. In the Live ATP Race, he's now in 52nd position. Acosta beat Nicolas Jarry to win the Buenos Aires title. He had to win five matches to land his first title and did so without dropping a set. That great performance followed a run to the last eight in Cordoba in his first clay court event of the year.

Stan Wawrinka is down at 67th in the latest rankings, a fall of seven places from the previous list. It's ten years now since he achieved his career high of third. Wawrinka has only played two tournaments this year and played just three matches. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open after not playing any warm-up events. His other tournament was on clay in Buenos Aires where he came from a set down to beat Pedro Cachin in the first round. He then lost in three sets to eventual runner-up Nicolas Jarry after winning the first. This is his first match against Acosta and we believe it'll be the Buenos Aires champion that can win this match.