The second round at ATP Marrakech continues on Day 4 as four more players will cement their spots in the quarterfinals. The slate offers many intriguing matchups, including 39-year-old Stan Wawrinka squaring off against rising Argentinian star Mariano Navone. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all happenings around the grounds of Marrakech. But who will advance?
ATP Marrakech Day 4 Predictions
Dan Evans vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-Head: Evans 0-2 Carballes Baena
No. 3 seed Dan Evans gets his ATP Marrakech campaign underway against Roberto Carballes Baena. Evans has struggled to begin the 2024 season, posting a 3-8 record through the first three months. Unfortunately for him, the clay season has never been his favorite part of the calendar. Carballes Baena, on the other hand, loves the dirt. The 31-year-old Spaniard has played the best tennis of his career over the last 18 months, including two wins over Evans on the clay. Expect this to be a long, grind-it-out match. I give a slight edge to Carballes Baena and his clay court prowess.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in 3
Sebastian Ofner vs Aleksandar Vukic
Head-to-Head: Ofner 1-1 Vukic
No. 2 seed Sebastian Ofner opens his spring clay court season against Australian Aleksandar Vukic. Coming off a career year, Ofner has not had the start to the 2024 season he had hoped for. The Austrian is 2-7 over his last nine matches, going 0-3 in the Golden Swing. Vukic has also struggled to open the season but looked comfortable in a straight-set Round 1 win over Alexandre Muller. Nothing of Ofner’s form suggests he’ll win here, but he is the much better clay-courter and is bound to turn around his season over the next two months.
Prediction: Ofner in 3
David Goffin vs Nicolas Moreno De Alboran
Head-to-Head: first meeting
33-year-old David Goffin battled through qualifying and Arthur Rinderknech in Round 1 to set up a second-round match with fellow qualifier Nicolas Moreno De Alboran. Goffin is on the brink of breaking back into the top 100 for the first time in six months and is always a sneaky threat to string together high-level performances. Moreno De Alboran is coming off back-to-back upset wins and has played some solid tennis in 2024. He should push Goffin, but I see the veteran finding a way to the finish line.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Stan Wawrinka vs Mariano Navone
Head-to-Head: first meeting
39-year-old Stan Wawrinka is still looking to revive his career, and there may be no better opportunity than the 2024 clay season. He took down Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-1 6-4 in Round 1. 23-year-old Mariano Navone has played terrific tennis this year, reaching his first final in Rio in February. Both players strike a clean ball and will not give up points easily. This should be a back-and-forth encounter, but I like the Argentine to find the finish line, given his current form.
Prediction: Navone in 3
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