TennisSection previews the 2021 Andalucia Open as Albert Ramos-Vinolas (4) meets Ricardas Berankis in the Round of 16 on Wednesday April 7th, 2021.
A tough First Round match awaits both players here at the 2021 Andalucia Open. Fourth seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain will face Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis in what is possibly the pick of the opening round matches. Both players are highly experienced and have been highly ranked on the ATP Tour, and it is likely to be a close and exciting battle. Will it be local player Ramos-Vinolas getting the win? Or will Berankis advance to the Quarter-Finals here in Marbella?
Albert Ramos-Vinolas is currently ranked #47 in the ATP world rankings and is a long-time veteran of the tour. Big things are expected of him here, as he is playing at home in Spain, and on his favorite surface. After a very poor 2020 season where he lost 5 out of 7 matches on clay after the break, he has rebounded nicely in 2021. He reached the Final in Cordoba and the Semi-Finals in Buenos Aires, and his confidence will be sky-high. With this type of form and momentum behind him he is primed for a deep run here at the 2021 Andalucia Open and will be very confident of advancing here over Ricardas Berankis. He has a very solid baseline game that is particularly effective on this surface and enters this match as the favorite.
Ricardas Berankis is a former junior world number one that is currently ranked #88 in the world rankings. Now 30 years of age, he has had a solid but unspectacular career, but most of his success has come on the faster surfaces. The Lithuanian #1 was impressive in his First Round upset win over Lucas Pouille, winning in three tough sets. His solid baseline game was on fully display during that match, and he will have been pleased to get a confidence-boosting win there. One area where he will need to be better is on serve, being broken five times throughout that match. Against the solid Albert Ramos-Vinolas it is unlikely that he can win if that statistic is repeated. Berankis enters this match as the underdog and will have to play a fantastic match to get the win here at the 2021 Andalucia Open.
The two men have played each other twice before, but only one being in an ATP main draw event. Ricardas Berankis leads the head to head series 1-0, although Ramos-Vinolas won the last time they played in the 2015 Madrid Masters qualifying event. While Berankis is a very solid player, I do not see him getting the win here on this surface. Albert Ramos-Vinolas is a true clay court specialist and has been in fantastic form on the surface this year. I expect him to eventually wear the Lithuanian down and win in straight sets, advancing to the Quarter-Finals here at the 2021 Andalucia Open.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Albert Ramos-Vinolas to win in straight sets.
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