The ATP Buenos Aires 250 tournament in Argentina has kicked off with some thrilling tennis action, and Day 3 is expected to deliver even more excitement. As always, we are here to preview and share our predictions for the five matches scheduled today.
Round of 32
Emilio Nava vs Mariano Navone
Head-to-head – This will be their first encounter.
Emilio Nava enters the South American clay court season without any notable achievements on this surface so far. He will be going up against fellow Argentine Mariano Navone, who is still on the hunt for his inaugural win of 2026. Although Nava has managed to qualify for Auckland and secured a victory in the first round at Melbourne, he is generally considered an underdog on clay. In contrast, Navone is anticipated to dig deep and potentially seize a win in this match.
Prediction: Navone in 3 sets.
Round of 16
Matteo Berrettini vs Vit Kopriva
Head-to-head – This will be their first encounter.
After withdrawing from the Australian Open, Matteo Berrettini finally claimed his first victory of 2026. The Italian player is eager to build on this momentum as the season unfolds, and a successful performance here could set him on the right track. He faces Czech player Vit Kopriva, who typically plays well from the baseline but has had difficulties consistently performing at the main Tour level. Look for Berrettini to showcase his skills, likely resulting in a commanding win.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2 sets.
Roman Andres Burruchaga vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Head-to-head – This will be their first encounter.
This matchup promises to be an engaging contest between two Argentines. Roman Andres Burruchaga brings his strong form from last week’s Challenger event finals in Rosario into this match. Having decisively defeated the tricky Laslo Djere, he now faces compatriot Tomas Martin Etcheverry. While Etcheverry performed reasonably well at the Australian Open, his true strength lies on clay courts, which makes this matchup intriguing. Expect Burruchaga to keep the contest competitive, but given Etcheverry's greater experience at this level, he likely has the necessary firepower to clinch the victory.
Prediction: Etcheverry in 3 sets.
Joao Fonseca vs Alejandro Tabilo
Head-to-head – Fonseca trails 0-1 against Tabilo.
All eyes will be on Joao Fonseca as this promising 19-year-old aims to establish himself among the elite players on the Tour. After an early exit in Melbourne, Fonseca is still chasing his first win of 2026. His opening match this week poses a significant challenge, as Alejandro Tabilo is a formidable opponent on clay. Having reached the finals of a Challenger event last week, Tabilo comes into this match with solid form. It’s plausible that Fonseca’s struggles will continue, leading to an upset by Tabilo.
Prediction: Tabilo in 3 sets.
Francisco Cerundolo vs Hugo Dellien
Head-to-head – This will be their first encounter.
Francisco Cerundolo had an impressive start to 2026, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open. As one of the crowd favorites this week, the Argentine kicks off his campaign against Hugo Dellien, who has successfully qualified but may face challenges due to a notable difference in baseline power. Cerundolo has previously reached the finals of this tournament twice, including last year, and appears poised to advance smoothly as he aims for his first title of the year.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2 sets.
