Some of the first round matches at the 2025 ATP Barcelona Open will be held on Monday, April 14 with Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune taking to court. Get the best predictions and tips for the day from this tournament today.
Holger Rune v Albert Ramos-Vinolas
In what will be their third meeting, world number 12 Holger Rune will face off against Albert Ramos-Vinolas for a place in the second round. The 37-year-old Ramos, who has barely played at the highest level in recent times, had defeated Rune in both their previous matches, in Barcelona and Buenos Aires which came in 2021.
Things have changed drastically since then obviously with Rune having hit a career-best ranking of fourth in the world and currently at 12th.
Rune, however, is coming off a three-match losing streak including a first round retirement at the Monte-Carlo Masters as he trailed by a set and 0-3 in the second to Nuno Borges. That was also his second defeat on clay for the season having played just two matches too.
While that will be the case, Rune will still be against a clay-court specialist who has been struggling to win matches even on the Challenger circuit. A facile win looks likely here.
Rune v Ramos-Vinolas Tip: Rune to win in straight sets: 1/2
Andrey Rublev v Jesper de Jong
World number number Andrey Rublev should not have a lot of problem when he takes on the 96th-ranked Jesper de Jong for a place in the second round in what will be their first ever meeting.
Rublev has featured in this tournament six times before this season and only once has he made the quarterfinal – that came in 2021. Overall, he has won just three main draw matches here.
What makes things slightly more difficult for Rublev is that his recent form has been anything but spectacular. He has already clinched an ATP title in Doha but take those five wins away and his record for the season reads a paltry four wins to go with seven defeats.
This includes a third round loss at the hands of Arthur Fils at the Monte-Carlo Masters last week which would probably make him a tad cagey.
De Jong, on the other hand, loves his time on clay and thanks to his finals appearance at the Murcia Challenger last month has managed to break into the top 100 on the rankings. He is currently perched at his career-best rank having also made it to the semifinal of the Girona Challenger competition.
Which is why we believe de Jong could prove to be a difficult player to dislodge and we might see a gritty battle.
Rublev v de Jong Tip: Over 18.5 games in the match: 2/5
Roberto Carballes Baena v Jordan Thompson
In their only previous meeting, the 28th-ranked Jordan Thompson had defeated the world number 57 Roberto Carballes Baena at the 2022 Wimbledon.
Things could be a lot different on the clay courts of Barcelona though.
Carballes Baena had might not have had the best of starts to his clay court season earlier in South America when he fell in the first round at both, the Argentina Open and Rio Open but he looks to have turned things around recently.
The Spaniard overcame three of his opponents including Nuno Borges to make the semifinals of the Marrakech Open where he was finally ousted by Luciano Darderi.
Thompson had earlier lost his Houston opener and while he shocked Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in round two, he was then sent out in the second round at the Monte-Carlo Masters by Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Overall too, Thompson doesn’t have much of a record on clay and that will given Carballes Baena a good chance to come through.
Carballes Baena v Thompson Tip: Carballes Baena to win: 11/20
Other ATP Barcelona Open 2025 Predictions for the Day
- Pedro Martinez v Brandon Nakashima: Three sets in the match: 6/5
- Sebastian Korda v Matteo Arnaldi: Arnaldi to win: 17/20
- Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard v Hamad Medjedovic: Mpetshi Perricard to win a set – Yes: 4/6
