Alex Molcan vs Hugo Dellien Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Rio Open

Prediction published on 21/02/2023, 05:41  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 21/02/2023 at 16:31 in Tennis Predictions

Ninth seeded Alex Molcan takes on Hugo Dellien In the Rio Open second round. Molcan began this week ranked 54th but was as high as 38th last May. He may be the seeded player in this match (the winner could face second seeded Cameron Norrie in the last eight) but his form this year has been hugely disappointing. Before this tournament, he'd had just one win in six matches this year. That was against Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open first round and the Swiss player was ranked 139th that week.. On clay this year, Molcan had only played in Buenos Aires last week and lost in straight sets to Dominic Thiem. This week has started better with a straight sets win over Joao Fonesco losing just three games. However, his opponent received a wild card to play in this tournament and began the event ranked 827th in the world.

Hugo Dellien was ranked 111th at the start of this Rio Open. He was as high as 64th last year but then began to slip down the rankings due to an elbow injury. He has been as low as 139th this year but a run to the last four in the Cordoba Open has seen him climb back up the ranking list. Dellien is at home on clay and also reached the semi-finals in a Challenger Tour held in Concepcion earlier this year. Last week saw him lose in the first round in Buenos Aires to Tomas Martin Etcheverry. To reach this second round in Rio, Dellien defeated Joao Sousa for the loss of just two games. That's moved him up to 103rd in the live rankings and a win over Molcan will take him back into the top 100. Our prediction is that will happen with Dellien getting the win.