Tennis acca tips: Casper Ruud and Holger Rune to have mixed fortunes

Nordic stars Casper Ruud and Holger Rune have underperformed in recent months but can get rocking in Acapulco.

The WTA Tour begins its lead-in to the Sunshine Double this week with a pair of US events.

American talents stud the fields in both Austin and San Diego.

Here we make a few picks for the elite tennis tour matches taking place on Thursday 29 February.

 

ATP Acapulco: Aleksandar Kovacevic vs Holger Rune | Pick: Kovacevic

ATP Acapulco: Casper Ruud vs Dusan Lajovic | Pick: Ruud

ATP Santiago: Jaume Munar vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas | Pick: Munar

ATP Santiago: Juan Pablo Varillas vs Sebastian Baez | Pick: Baez

WTA Austin: Danielle Collins vs Katie Volynets | Pick: Collins

WTA San Diego: Anna Blinkova vs Dayana Yastremska | Pick: Yastremska

WTA San Diego: Donna Vekic vs Marina Stakusic | Pick: Vekic

WTA San Diego: Katerina Siniakova vs Emma Navarro | Pick: Siniakova

 

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ATP Acapulco: Aleksandar Kovacevic vs Holger Rune

Holger Rune and Aleksandar Kovacevic will face off for the first time when they meet in the second round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco.

Rune hasn't really got rolling this season only winning twice in a row once so far this term on two occasions.

Rune's run to the Brisbane final has been his best effort so far this season, while Kovacevic has more match wins to his name, quite a few of those have come in qualifying.

Kovacevic had to qualify in Acapulco as well, however, he also defeated Los Cabos champion Jordan Thompson in the first round so he could have another upset in him.

 

ATP Acapulco: Casper Ruud vs Dusan Lajovic

Casper Ruud and Dusan Lajovic will play each other for the fifth time in their careers when they contest a second-round match in Acapulco.

Ruud leads the rivalry 3-1 which might help the Norwegian build a little confidence after a finals loss in Los Cabos.

Ruud has won both of their clashes on hard courts but Lajovic won their last meeting on the clay of Madrid.

Despite a slow start to his campaign, Ruud is 10-2 for the season and well-placed to push on from there.

 

ATP Santiago: Jaume Munar vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas

Spaniards Jaume Munar and Albert Ramos-Vinolas clash in Santiago in what will be their seventh career meeting.

Munar has only beaten Ramos-Vinolas once but that was in their last meeting.

The time has come for Munar to move past a player like Ramos-Vinolas if he wants to be recognised in a talented generation.

Munar could sweep to an emphatic win here against his 36-year-old compatriot.

 

ATP Santiago: Juan Pablo Varillas vs Sebastian Baez

Five of the nine meetings between Juan Pablo Varillas and Sebastian Baez have come at Challenger level.

Overall, Baez holds a 7-2 lead in the all-time head-to-head and a 3-0 lead in main draw ATP Tour matches.

Varillas has just one win to his name this season and doesn't appear well-placed to turn around his losing streak against Baez.

Baez has enjoyed a good South American clay swing but will want to finish up with a strong effort in Santiago.

 

WTA Austin: Danielle Collins vs Katie Volynets

Wildcard Katie Volynets faces the veteran and third seed Danielle Collins in the second round in Austin.

Volynets held her nerve in a tight straight sets win over Renata Zarazua to gain the round of 16.

Collins beat Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki in straight sets as well to notch her 11th match win of the season.

Volynets has also picked up a good few wins this season reaching a WTA 125 semi-final and WTA 250 quarter. 

 

WTA San Diego: Anna Blinkova vs Dayana Yastremska

Dayana Yastremska will be out for her second win over Anna Blinkova in as many meetings.

Yastremska hasn't matched her Australian Open run to the semi-finals yet this term.

However, the Ukrainian star is one of the players to watch on the tour.

Blinkova will present a challenge but it is one that Yastremska has overcome before and could conquer once again.

 

WTA San Diego: Donna Vekic vs Marina Stakusic

Donna Vekic is set to burst the bubble of 3-0 Marina Stakusic who has made a winning start to her season in San Diego.

Vekic reached the semi-finals in Linz but has yet to truly put a good run of form together.

Stakusic qualified for the San Diego Open to make her main draw debut for 2024.

Stakusic started with a win over Marina Melkinova in three sets while Vekic bested Katherine Hui in straight sets.

 

WTA San Diego: Katerina Siniakova vs Emma Navarro

Katerina Siniakova and Emma Navarro have traded wins in their two meetings to date.

Navarro beat Siniakova in Dubai earlier this month to send her packing in the opening round.

In San Diego, Navarro will have the home advantage but not the element of surprise.

Siniakova should be able to figure out a path to victory over Navarro.