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The first day of main draw action at the 2023 Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro on Monday (February 20) will have six singles matches featuring two seeds and as many qualifiers.
The ATP 500 event is the third stop of the Latin American Golden Swing, after Cordoba and Argentina Open (Buenos Aires). Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Cameron Norrie, Lorenzo Musetti and Francisco Cerundolo are the top four seeds.
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Without further ado, here's a look at how the six first-round matches on the first day of the Rio Open could pan out:
#1 Alex Molcan vs Joao Fonseca
Alex Molcan will open his Rio Open campaign against Brazilian wildcard Joao Fonseca.
The 51st-ranked Molcan has won only one of his six matches this year, including a first-round exit at the Argentina Open last week. Meanwhile, World No. 830 Fonseca is making his ATP debut.
Barring a surprise, Molcan should take this one.
Prediction: Molcan in straight sets
#2 Dominic Thiem (2017 Rio Open winner) vs Thiago Monteiro
Former winner Dominic Thiem will open his campaign for a second Rio Open title against home hope Thiago Monteiro.
Playing with a protected ranking, the 99th-ranked Thiem (1-4) got off the mark for the season at the Argentina Open last week. Meanwhile, World No. 78 Monteiro has won only one of his seven matches this year, including a first-round loss in Buenos Aires.
The two players haven't met before, but Thiem should prevail.
Prediction: Thiem in straight sets.
#3 Lorenzo Musetti vs Nicolas Jarry
Third seed Lorenzo Musetti will open his campaign for a maiden Rio Open title against qualifier Nicolas Jarry.
The World No. 20 Musetti is 5-3 on the season after losing in the quarterfinals of the Argentina Open last week. Meanwhile, the 139th-ranked Jarry is 2-1 on the season after losing in the Australian Open second round last month.
Musetti is expected to take this first-time matchup.
Prediction: Musetti in straight sets.
#4 Pedro Martinez vs Cristian Garin (2020 Rio Open winner)
In an all-unseeded first-round clash, Pedro Martinez will take on Chile's Cristian Garin.
World No. 73 Martinez slumped to 2-4 on the season after losing in the Argentina Open first round last week. Meanwhile, the 100th-ranked Garin is 2-3 in 2023 following his second-round exit in Cordoba two weeks ago.
Garin has taken four of his five previous contests with Martinez, including one at Cordoba, so the trend could continue.
Prediction: Garin to win
#5 Laslo Djere (2019 Rio Open winner) vs Facundo Bagnis
Laslo Djere will take on qualifier Facundo Bagnis in his Rio opener on Monday.
The 57th-ranked Djere is 6-4 on the season after making the Round of 16 at the Argentina Open last week. Meanwhile, World No. 87 Bagnis is winless in three matches in 2023.
Bagnis won their lone meeting in Chile two years ago, but the 2019 winner should prevail this time.
Prediction: Djere in three sets
#6 Joao Sousa vs Hugo Dellien
Joao Sousa will begin his campaign at the ATP 500 tournament against Bolivia's Hugo Dellien.
The 142nd-ranked Sousa dropped to 2-6 in 2023 following his first-round exit at the Argentina Open last week. Meanwhile, the 107th-ranked Dellien is 3-3 on the season after also stumbling in the Buenos Aires opening-round last week.
The two players haven't met before, but expect Sousa to take this one.
Prediction: Sousa to win in three sets
