Day three at the ATP Rome Masters will see a number of star names join the action at this crucial warm-up event ahead of the French Open. For most, this week presents the chance to find their feet on the clay ahead of the third Major of the year and it will be interesting to see just how comfortable these players are on the surface. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate including Pablo Carreno Busta vs Rafael Nadal. But who will advance?
ATP Rome Masters Day Three Predictions
Novak Djokovic vs Salvatore Caruso
Head-to-head: Djokovic 1-0 Caruso
Novak Djokovic arrives in Rome with something to prove. At the US Open, where he was the heavy favourite, he was disqualified in the fourth round against Pablo Carreno Busta after accidentally hitting a line judge whilst hitting a ball away in frustration. Not only did that error in judgement see him miss out on the chance to move one step closer to Nadal and Roger Federer in the Grand Slam title count, but it also put a blemish on his previously perfect record in 2020.
Salvatore Caruso, meanwhile, has made the most of his wild card, maintaining his good form by beating Tennys Sandgren in the first round in three sets. But it is hard to see him advancing any further. In his only previous meeting with Djokovic, the Serbian won in straight sets in the third round at the French Open. With Djokovic having had plenty of time to prepare on the clay, expect him to outclass Caruso and take the first step towards the title in Rome.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
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Grigor Dimitrov vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: Dimitrov 1-0 Nishioka
Both Grigor Dimitrov and Yoshihito Nishioka are at their best when playing on hard courts. But Dimitrov does have a respectable record on the clay, despite some struggles on the surface, and is a former-semifinalist at the ATP Rome Masters. Nishioka cannot say the same. He has gone 2-9 at tour-level on clay so far in his career. Nor is Nishioka in particularly good form, with the Japanese arriving in Rome having lost his last four matches.
He snapped that losing streak against Miomir Kecmanovic, in what looks like an impressive win on paper. But the Serbian had just won the title in Kitzbuhel and was clearly struggling with fatigue and the lower altitude in Rome. Dimitrov, however, turned in a polishing performance in the first round, beating Italy’s Gianluca Mager in straight sets. Expect him to outmanoeuvre Nishioka with his all-court game and powerful shots from the baseline.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
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Jannik Sinner vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 1-0 Sinner
Jannik Sinner clearly has a bright future in the game, with the Italian one of the best young talents on the ATP Tour. But despite some flashes of brilliance, Sinner has struggled with consistency so far in his fledgling career. Stefanos Tsitsipas, meanwhile, will surely be glad to get back on the clay after a disappointing summer in the United States, where he lost in the third round at the US Open after squandering six match points against Borna Coric.
But he has a good record on the clay, winning the Estoril Open last season. Sinner is not a bad clay-courter himself and does have the advantage of having played in Kitzbuhel last week. But Tsitsipas should be well prepared and beat Sinner in straight sets in Rome last season, losing just five games. Sinner has improved notably since then, establishing himself as a tour-level regular. But Tsitsipas’ experience and power should give him a decisive advantage in this battle of the future stars.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
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Stefano Travaglia vs Borna Coric
Head-to-head: first meeting
Stefano Travaglia will surely be another player glad to be back on the clay, with the Italian having captured four Challenger titles on the ‘terre battue’. However, he will need to be at his very best up against Coric. The Croatian arrived at the ATP Rome Masters in excellent form after reaching the US Open quarterfinals and began his campaign in Italy with a comprehensive win over the dangerous Chilean Cristian Garin in the first round.
Travaglia scored a big win in his own right, beating world #28 Taylor Fritz to back up his semifinal showing at the Prostejov Challenger last week. But in Coric, he is up against a man considerably more comfortable on the clay than Fritz, with Croatian possessing a fine record on the clay. Tiredness may be a concern after his run in New York, but there was little sign of fatigue in his win over Garin in his opener. Ultimately, Coric is the better player and should win comfortably.
Prediction: Coric in 2
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