It should be an entertaining final at the ATP Rio Open with Alejandro Tabilo set to take on Tomas Martin Etcheverry, with both men on the hunt for the biggest title of their careers to date. The Chilean Tabilo may well be able to call on the support of the Brazilian crown against an Argentine, but Etcheverry comes into the match in fine form albeit after a taxing semifinal. As always, we’ll be offering our prediction for the final, but who will come out on top?
ATP Rio Final Prediction
Alejandro Tabilo vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head: Etcheverry 2-1 Tabilo
Tabilo has had an excellent week so far at the ATP Rio Open, book his place in the final courtesy of wins over Emilio Nava, Francesco Passaro, Thiago Tirante and surprise semifinalist Ignacio Buse, dropping just one set in the process. It continues a solid stretch on the clay for the Chilean, who also reached the final at the Challenger in Concepcion in the last week of January, where he lost to Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in a seesawing contest, and made the last eight in Buenos Aires.
The concern for Tabilo will be that he lost to Etcheverry in Buenos Aires having been unable to sustain a strong start to the match. Etcheverry has also looked sharp so far in Rio, beating Francisco Comesana, Vilius Gaubas, and Jaime Faria to reach the semifinals, where he outlasted Vit Kopriva in a third-set tiebreak to reach the fourth final of his career to date and his first at ATP 500 level.
How much he will have left in the tank after his exertions against Kopriva is not clear, however, with rain delays in Rio giving him very little time to recover before the final later today. Indeed, that may well prove to be the decisive factor in a match-up that otherwise looks close on paper and was closely fought only a week ago. With Tabilo having played first and won comfortably, it would be no great surprise if his fresher legs made this a challenge too far for Etcheverry – particularly if this match goes the distance.
Prediction: Tabilo in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports