Acapulco without suprises (Nalbandian falls)

Acapulco ATP 500

Top Seeds:
1. Nalbandian <- is anyone suprised?
2. Monfils
3. Robredo
4. Almagro
5. Acasuso
6. Montanes
7. Granollers
8. Moya

My pick: Tommy "en fuego" Robredo

Underdog Pick: Everyone other than Robredo... but if I had to pick I'd go Bellucci

Interesting first and second round results:

Koellerer d. Nalbandian 1-6 6-3 6-4

If you've been reading my blogs for a few weeks than this is no suprise... if you're someone who puts huge stock in rankings however, I imagine it is. Suffice it to say betting on Davydenko and Nalbandian to do well is almost always a losing proposition (though we all know people love to bet on Davydenko...)

Vassallo-Arguello d. Granollers 6-4 6-3

Almagro d. Starace 7-6(1) 6-7(5) 6-3

Battle here, clearly... but did it take too much out of Almagro? We know Almagro is a clay courter and there for MUST be fit, but you have to wonder with his talent why he hasn't gone too far in many tournaments yet. Far be it for me to question fitness, but in watching his game I'd pick him to be one of the top 5 claycourters in the world and he's only won 4 ATP titles in over 4 years. Perhaps I'm too critical. It'd be a massive upset if he doesn't get the job done next round against his opponent Gimeno-Traver who is currently ranked #89.

Mayer d. Moya 6-4 7-5

Hate to see you go Carlos, keep fighting the good fight

Monfils d. Bellucci 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-1

Bellucci was my underdog pick and he certainly gave the #2 seed Monfils a good run. A small and safe prediction here... Monfils will take out Mayer in the next round and get beat by the Robredo steamroller after that.

Match to watch:

Robredo vs. Acasuso

Both of these guys are wishing they were on the top half of the draw instead of playing each other. Robredo leads 5-3 lifetime, and has won 3 out of 4 matches they've played on clay including the last two meetings in straight sets. Given Robredo has won his last two ATP events, you have to pick him to win this.

If either of these two win this tournament they earned it, with what has now shown to be pretty clearly the toughest draws in the tournament.

If you like claycourt tennis and smart play... Watch Tommy Robredo

For the main draw men's singles click here