First-round action in Belgrade wraps up on Tuesday with a showdown between Jiri Lehecka and Marin Cilic. Second-round competition is getting underway, as well, highlighted by Stan Wawrinka vs. Laslo Djere.

(PR) Marin Cilic vs. Jiri Lehecka

The last time Cilic won a match, he went on to win the entire tournament (Hangzhou in September). Following that improbable title he suffered four first-round exits in a row. Cilic is finally back in the win column, so will that send him on his way at the Belgrade Open? We will find out when he faces Lehecka in the second round on Tuesday.

Cilic opened with a 7-6(2), 6-3 defeat of Alexandre Muller. On paper it now gets a lot tougher for the 2014 U.S. Open champion, but a matchup with Lehecka actually might not be too difficult. The 31st-ranked Czech has been a complete disaster since finishing runner-up in Antwerp. He lost to Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-2 in the Basel first round and 7-5, 6-2 to Jack Draper in Paris. Dating back to the Antwerp final against Roberto Bautista Agut, Lehecka has dropped six consecutive sets–including four by 6-2 margins or worse. This is a great opportunity or Cilic to pull off an upset.

Pick: Cilic in 3

(WC) Laslo Djere vs. (WC) Stan Wawrinka

It will be a showdown between wild-card entires when Wawrinka and Djere go head-to-head for the third time in their careers on Tuesday. Wawrinka has won both of their previous encounters; 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-4 at the Rome Masters and 6-4, 6-3 on the indoor hard courts of Metz (in qualifying).

The 39-year-old Swiss is understandably struggling at 39 years old, but he is ending the season in respectable form. Wawrinka has advanced at least one round in three straight ATP-level events, including a semifinal performance in Stockholm. Still in his prime at 29, Djere has absolutely no excuse for his dismal level. The 141st-ranked Serb is 7-16 on the main tour in 2024 and is coming off back-to-back first-round exits at Challengers. Djere is much better on clay than he is on any kind of hard court, too, so Wawrinka should be able to advance.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3