Argentina Open 2023 Day 2: Men's singles predictions ft. Dusan Lajovic vs Sebastian Baez, Alex Molcan vs Dominic Thiem

The second day of main draw action at the 2023 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires will feature eight first-round matches.

A wildcard, four qualifiers and four seeded players - topped by fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo - will be in action. The ATP 250 event is the second stop on this year's Golden Swing.

So, without further ado, here's a look at the predictions for each match:

#1 Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Hugo Dellien

Home hope Tomas Martin Etcheverry will open his Argentina Open campaign against Hugo Dellien.

The 82nd-ranked Etcheverry is 1-3 on the season, while the 107th-ranked Dellien - 3-2 in 2023 - reached the semifinals in Cordoba last week. The two players have never clashed before, but expect Dellien to win this one.

Prediction: Dellien in straight sets

#2 Yannick Hanfmann vs Francisco Cerundolo (2021 Argentina Open finalist)

Qualifier Yannick Hanfmann will lock horns with fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo on Tuesday.

The 134th-ranked German lost his lone match of the season at the Australian Open last month. Meanwhile, World No. 30 Cerundolo is coming off a quarterfinal run at Cordoba last week.

This is another first-time match-up, but expect the 2021 finalist - who's 4-4 on the season - to prevail.

Prediction: Cerundolo in straight sets

#3 Dusan Lajovic vs Sebastian Baez

Qualifier Dusan Lajovic will open his Argentina Open campaign against sixth seed and home hope Sebastian Baez.

The 90th-ranked Lajovic is 1-2 on the season, while World No. 36 Baez is coming off a title run in Cordoba to improve to 4-3 in 2023.

Brilliant Baez 🤩

He takes his second tour title on home ground against Coria 🇦🇷

@CordobaOpen | #CordobaOpen https://t.co/WkNtpSTeP8

Baez won their lone meeting at Roland Garros in the first round last year and should repeat the trick again.

Prediction: Baez in straight sets

#4 Alex Molcan vs Dominic Thiem

World No. 51 Alex Molcan will take on 2020 US Open winner Dominic Thiem in his Argentina Open opener. Molcan is 1-4 this season, while the 99th-ranked Thiem is winless in three matches this year.

The pair haven't clashed before, but Thiem should emerge triumphant, albeit the hard way.

Prediction - Thiem in three sets

#5 Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Roberto Carballes Baena

Cordoba Open semifinalist Ramos-Vinolas will take on compatriot Carballes Baena for a place in the second round.

The 44th-ranked Ramos-Vinolas - 2-5 on the season - has a 4-2 lead against his 76-ranked compatriot, who's 1-3 in 2023. Expect the left-hander to take this one.

Prediction: Ramos-Vinolas in three sets

#6 Daniel Elahi Galan vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli

Daniel Elahi Galan will look to secure his first win in four matches this year when he takes on home hope Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

The 85th-ranked Galan hasn't met the qualifier - making his season debut - before, but expect the World No. 127 to emerge victorious.

Prediction: Carabelli in straight sets

#7 Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Federico Coria

Wildcard Facundo Diaz Acosta will take on Cordoba Open finalist Federico Coria in an all-Argentinian showdown.

The 191st-ranked Acosta will be looking for his first ATP match win in three attempts, while the 49th-ranked Coria will hope to go all the way. Expect Coria to prevail.

Prediction: Coria in straight sets

#8 Juan Pablo Varillas vs Joao Sousa

The 101st-ranked Pablo Varillas - 0-2 in 2023 - will open his Argentina Open campaign against World No. 142 Joao Sousa, who's 2-5 on the season.

The Peruvian won his lone meeting with Sousa in Santiago in 2021 and should repeat the result again.

¡Qué día tendremos mañana! 🤩

🎾Este es el orden de juego del segundo día del #ArgOpen2023 https://t.co/agnGNDEHSq

Prediction: Varillas in straight sets.