Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Acapulco match.
Holger Rune remains among the elite of world tennis despite his drop in the rankings. The Dane’s current form raises questions, as he has not progressed beyond the fourth round in 2025. Roberto Carballes Baena has improved his hard-court game, yet he has experienced a poor run against top-20 opponents.
Holger Rune
The Dane is ranked 13th in the world, although he has previously reached fourth place. Rune has twice reached the semi-finals in Acapulco, but his form has declined this season; after advancing to the fourth round at the Australian Open, he has not progressed past the second round in other tournaments. His greatest strength remains his stable serve – in his last five matches, he has averaged no more than two double faults.
Roberto Carballes Baena
Carballes Baena is ranked 53rd and has yet to win a title on hard courts, even at the Futures level. The Spaniard is more accustomed to clay-court tournaments, having won two titles last year (Seville, Braunschweig) and reaching a final in Marrakech. We note that Roberto has struggled against elite opponents, having lost 12 consecutive matches against top-20 players. Moreover, in crucial moments, he has failed to perform, losing 9 of his last 14 tiebreaks.
Holger Rune vs Roberto Carballes Baena Prediction
Although Holger Rune is not in peak form, he remains significantly stronger than his opponent, particularly on hard courts. We are selecting a bet on a convincing victory for the Dane.
