Americans aren’t known for their talent on clay typically but Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz have reached the quarterfinals in Rome alongside players like the in-form Alejandro Tabilo. Here is a look at what the quarterfinals of ATP Rome have in store.
Hubert Hurkacz vs Tommy Paul
The pair have split h2h meetings, Paul just dominated Daniil Medvedev and hasn’t dropped a set this week, he hasn’t been elite at the ATP level on clay but he has shown promise, Hurkacz has put together an excellent season for his part and leading with his serve he will be hard to defeat after reaching two finals already this season. Paul’s form looks a little better so I will go with him by a narrow margin. Paul in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Nicolas Jarry
The lower ranked Jarry is comfortable on clay and leads the h2h 3-2, all his best results have come on clay including a final in Buenos Aires this season. Tsitsipas won Monte Carlo and reached the Barcelona final, the Greek star is fit and firing and it still looks difficult for Jarry to dislodge him in this form. This one should be excellent to watch. Tsitsipas in 3
Alejandro Tabilo vs Zhizhen Zhang
Zhang won their only meeting but that took place on grass and Tabilo would have a lot more confidence facing Zhang on clay. Zhang’s best win to this point came against Ben Shelton as he has posted his best result of the season thus far, and in a surprise, done so on clay. Tabilo stunned Novak Djokovic en route to the quarterfinals, he won a challenger title last week has been dominating the spring clay court swing. Zhang will give it his best, but Tabilo should be a heavy favorite on this surface, and in this form. Tabilo is playing some of the best tennis he’s ever played before. Tabilo in 2
Alexander Zverev vs Taylor Fritz
Zverev narrowly leads the h2h 4-3, Fritz has been tearing up the clay court season, reaching the final in Munich, the semis in Madrid and now the quarterfinals (or further) in Rome. Zverev has looked dominant against much lower ranked competition thus far, he last made a semifinal in Miami earlier this season. Fritz’s form is scary good right now and I don’t see Zverev stacking up in the end. Fritz in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
