'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABdAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAEDBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwUABAYRBxIyYXEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEQADAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARECQf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AxhgtpjL3EGe3stFrvXo2Ri3bTTymuqn0uMnx+g1BVhHZXTZTs6JGiR7ApSpajzO5G1n/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The third day of main draw action at the 2023 Mexican Open in Acapulco on Wednesday (March 1) will see eight second-round matches. Six seeds, two qualifiers, one wildcard and one lucky loser will be in action.
On Tuesday, the likes of Nuno Borges and Matteo Berrettini reached the next round at the ATP 500 event, respectively beating qualifier Nick Chappell and Alex Molcan.
Without further ado, here's a look at how the matches at the Mexican Open could pan out:
#1 Taro Daniel vs Casper Ruud
Qualifier Taro Daniel will take on second seed Casper Ruud for a place in the Mexican Open quarterfinals.
Trending
The World No. 125 Daniel is 3-2 on the season, while the fourth-ranked Ruud is 3-3. Expect the Norwegian to take this first-time matchup.
Prediction: Ruud in straight sets
#2 Taylor Fritz (2020 Mexican Open finalist) vs Denis Shapovalov
Third seed Taylor Fritz will lock horns with World No. 30 Denis Shapovalov in the Mexican Open second round.
The fifth-ranked Fritz is 12-3 in 2023, while Shapovalov is 5-4. The Canadian leads the pair's H2H 5-2, but expect Fritz to take this one.
Prediction: Fritz in three sets
#3 Nuno Borges vs Holger Rune
Nuno Borges will take on fourth seed Holger Rune for a place in the Acapulco last eight.
The 85th-ranked Borges is 2-3 on the season, while World No. 10 Rune is 9-4. The Norwegian should win this first-time matchup.
Prediction: Rune in straight sets
#4 Feliciano Lopez vs Frances Tiafoe
Wildcard Feliciano Lopez will lock horns with sixth seed Frances Tiafoe for a place in the quarterfinals.
World No. 1035 Lopez is off the mark for the season (1-0), while the 15th-ranked Tiafoe is 9-2. The Spaniard took their lone meeting five years ago, but Tiafoe should win this one.
Prediction: Tiafoe in straight sets
#5 Alex de Minaur vs Jacopo Berrettini
Eighth seed Alex de Minaur takes on qualifier Jacopo Berrettini - who joins his older brother Matteo - in the Mexican Open Round of 16.
The 22nd-ranked De Minaur is 8-4 on the season, while World No. 842 Berrettini (1-0) won on his season debut.
The Australian should take this first-time matchup.
Prediction: De Minaur in three sets
#6 Elias Ymer vs Matteo Berrettini
Lucky loser Elias Ymer will take on Matteo Berrettini for a place in the last eight. The 170th-ranked Ymer is 2-2 in 2023, while World No. 24 Berrettini is 4-3.
The Italian took their lone meeting in the Davis Cup last year and should prevail again.
Prediction: Berrettini in straight sets
#7 Mackenzie McDonald vs Brandon Nakashima
In an all-American second-round matchup, the 62nd-ranked Mackenzie McDonald will take on World No. 49 Brandon Nakashima.
McDonald is 10-5 in 2023, while Nakashima is 1-2. Expect McDonald to extend his 2-0 H2H lead against his compatriot.
Prediction: McDonald in three sets
#8 Michael Mmoh vs Tommy Paul
In another all-American matchup in the Mexican Open Round of 16, World No. 86 Michael Mmoh will take on seventh seed Tommy Paul.
The 86th-ranked Mmoh is 6-4 on the season, while World No. 23 Paul is 9-3. Expect the Australian Open semifinalist to take this first-time matchup.
Prediction: Paul in straight sets
