TennisSection previews the 2021 Acapulco Open as Grigor Dimitrov (5) meets Adrian Mannarino in the First Round on Tuesday March 16th, 2021.
This matchup features two veterans of the ATP Tour. Will it be Grigor Dimitrov who has been in fantastic form in 2021 getting the win? Or can Adrian Mannarino correct his poor form this season with an upset here at the 2021 Acapulco Open? This is setting up to be one of the most interesting matches of the First Round here in Mexico, who will come up on top?
Grigor Dimitrov is currently ranked #17 in the world and is a former top five player. After a disappointing past few years due to lack of form and fitness he has been much improved in 2020-2021, with a number of impressive results catapulting him back into the top 20. He was outstanding at the Australian Open, unfortunately getting injured in the Quarter-Finals after being a set up over Aslan Karatsev. He was in complete control of that match until the injury, and will be very disappointed to have not reached the Semi-Finals. A very aggressive baseline player, he is completely at home on the hard courts, and has had some success here in Acapulco before, winning the title in 2014. He enters this match as the overwhelming favorite, but questions may remain about his match readiness as he hasn’t played since Melbourne.
Adrian Mannarino is unseeded here at the 2021 Acapulco Open, and has had a very poor start to his 2021 season. Currently ranked #36, he has seen his ranking slide of late, from a career high of #22 in 2019. The holder of one career ATP title, he has built a reputation as a very solid baseliner, that has very consistent results. He is yet to reach a Quarter-Final so far in 2021 which is unusual for him, so he will be very eager to get his season back on track and correct the recent slide. He is the type of player that everyone hopes to avoid, as he is capable of some top level tennis, with numerous top 20 wins to his name. If Grigor Dimitrov is not fully focused or unfit he is fully capable of causing the upset here in Mexico despite being the underdog.
This will definitely be one of the most entertaining of the First Round matchups here at the 2021 Acapulco Open, featuring two very attacking baseline players. They have played each other twice in their careers, including a win for the Bulgarian here in Acapulco in 2020. Grigor Dimitrov currently heads the head to head series 2-0. One thing is for sure, there will be lost of flashy shot making from the baseline, and it will be interesting to see how prepared Dimitrov is for this match. Even though he hasn’t played a match in quite some time, I expect Grigor Dimitrov to win this match. He is very experienced, and has shown signs of being back to his best in 2021. He will have his sights firmly set on breaking into the top 10 again, and will be very motivated to do well here in Acapulco, where is a former champion. Expect Adrian Mannarino to put up strong resistance, but he lacks the weapons to truly trouble Dimitrov if he is playing well. Grigor Dimitrov to win in two tight sets.
Free Tennis Preview and Prediction: Grigor Dimitrov to win.
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