The ATP Tour heads to Rome for a star-studded Masters 1000 clay-court event. The Internazionali BNL d’Italia in the Italian capital is filled with a 96-man singles draw that features the 13 top-ranked players in the world. Day 2 in Rome will feature a bevy of intriguing Round 1 matches, including Albert Ramos-Vinolas taking on Italian wildcard Francesco Passaro. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings in Rome. But who will advance?
ATP Rome Day 2 Predictions
Thiago Monteiro vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-Head: Monteiro 1-0 Mannarino
Thiago Monteiro and Adrian Mannarino will square off for the first time since 2016 when they play in Rome on Thursday. Since their first meeting, Mannarino has had a better career and is experiencing much more success this season. The Frenchman had strong showings in Indian Wells and Miami and can hang with the best players in the world on a hard court. However, he is just 1-4 since the calendar flipped to the clay season. Monteiro, a player who favors clay as his best surface, should be able to push Mannarino around the court with deep and consistent groundstrokes. I favor his ability to hang in rallies and force the Frenchman into many unforced errors.
Prediction: Monteiro in 3
Hugo Dellien vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-Head: Dellien 1-1 Carballes Baena
Hugo Dellien and Roberto Carballes Baena are looking to break their split head-to-head record when they square off in Rome. Their two previous meetings were tight clay-court encounters in 2019. Both men prefer the clay as their best surface and should be firing at a high level in this match. Dellien held a 15-5 record to start the season before an injury sidelined him in March. It could be a long day if the elbow causes him problems against Carballes Baena. The Spaniard will force Dellien into long points with razor-thin margins if he wants to get a ball past him. Carballes Baena is 6-2 since the start of April, including a title in Marrakech. His confidence and form should lead him to victory.
Prediction: Carballes Baena in 2
Corentin Moutet vs Fabian Marozsan
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Firecracker Frenchman Corentin Moutet will take on qualifier Hungarian Fabian Marozsan in Rome’s first round. Marozsan is looking for his first ATP main draw victory, losing his only three previous tour-level matches. Both Marozsan and Moutet have a lot of variety in their games that should result in some fun points. The Hungarian has a lethal drop shot that, if deployed correctly, could trouble the Frenchman. Moutet is playing in just his third match of the year and will likely suffer from rust. I see the qualifier finding his way past the No. 67 player in the world in a three-set battle.
Prediction: Marozsan in 3
Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Francesco Passaro
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Veteran Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas is set to take on Italian wildcard Francesco Passaro in the first round in Rome. The hometown wildcard is looking to pick up his fifth career ATP win and first at a Masters event. He faces a tall task against Ramos-Vinolas. The 35-year-old has been a very consistent clay-courter throughout his career. That said, he is just 5-15 this year and has dropped six matches to players ranked outside the top 100. I expect these two to play a tightly contested match but give a slight edge to Passaro. The home crowd will help bring him to the finish line.
Prediction: Passaro in 3
Main Photo Credit: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images
