The ATP Tiriac Open’s main draw continues on Tuesday in Bucharest, with four more matches on the schedule. Clay specialists and hard-court regulars alike will be searching for early rhythm as the European clay swing begins in earnest. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance?
ATP Bucharest Day 2 Predictions
Nuno Borges vs Damir Dzumhur
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Dzumhur has had an up-and-down season so far and came through a tough first round match to reach this stage. Borges defeated him twice before, including a straight-sets win on hard courts earlier this year. Borges moves solidly and uses his forehand to control rallies, which should translate nicely to clay even if his hard-court pedigree gives him an aggressive edge. Dzumhur can fight hard and mix things up, but Borges has looked the more consistent player in their matchups.
Prediction: Borges in 2
Gabriel Diallo vs Alex Molcan
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Diallo earned the top seeding here after showing strong hard-court results earlier in the season, where his big serve and powerful groundstrokes help him finish points quickly. Molcan came through qualifying and has always been more at home on clay, where he slides well, defends effectively, and constructs points patiently. The Canadian’s raw power could trouble Molcan early, but the Slovak’s comfort on this surface and ability to extend rallies should make it competitive. Diallo’s recent level and athleticism give him the tools to pull ahead once he finds his rhythm.
Prediction: Diallo in 3
Elmer Moller vs Mariano Navone
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Navone has built a strong reputation on clay over the past couple of seasons, moving exceptionally well and grinding out long exchanges from the back of the court. He even reached the final here in Bucharest a few years back, showing he knows these conditions. Moller has produced some encouraging hard-court results this year and strikes the ball cleanly, but he has less experience turning that form into success on slower clay courts. Navone’s familiarity with the surface and proven ability to stay steady in longer rallies make him the more reliable option here.
Prediction: Navone in 2
Alexander Shevchenko vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Head-to-Head: Shevchenko 1–0 van de Zandschulp
Shevchenko beat van de Zandschulp on hard courts a few seasons ago and brings plenty of power and variety to his game. Van de Zandschulp sits higher in the rankings and has shown solid all-court ability this season, including decent results on clay where he can use his slice and consistency to disrupt opponents. Shevchenko’s hard-court background helps him strike the ball early and aggressively, but van de Zandschulp’s extra experience and knack for extending points should help him settle into the match better on clay.
Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
