In a battle of the big hitters, Alexander Zverev will take on Nicolas Jarry in the final at the ATP Rome Masters. Zverev has the weight of experience on his side, but Jarry has had an excellent week and will surely be full of confidence heading into the final. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our prediction for the final, but who will come out on top at the Foro Italico?
ATP Rome Final Prediction
Alexander Zverev vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: Zverev 4-2 Jarry
Zverev, the third seed in Rome, enjoyed a first-round bye before opening his campaign with a dominant 6-0 6-4 win over Aleksandar Vukic. He backed that up by beating home hope Luciano Darderi in straight sets to reach the fourth round where he faced Portugal’s Nuno Borges. Zverev recorded another convincing win, dropping just six games as he booked his place in the quarterfinals at the ATP Rome Masters.
He faced the 11th seed Taylor Fritz there but got the better of the American easily enough, winning 6-4 6-3 to reach his first clay-court semifinal of the season and second at Masters-level. Alejandro Tabilo, the surprise package this week, was waiting for him and the Chilean made a fast start, winning the opening set 6-1. But he was unable to maintain his momentum as Zverev turned the matc around to record a 1-6 7-6 6-2 win.
Jarry, meanwhile, also benefitted from a first-round bye and started his week at the ATP Rome Masters with a 6-2 7-6 win over Matteo Arnaldi, which he backed up by battling past Stefano Napolitano in three. Jarry then beat Alexandre Muller in straight-sets to set up a quarterfinal-clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas which he won after three thrilling sets. Jarry again had to dig deep in the last four, but got the better of Tommy Paul, winning 6-3 6-7 6-3 to reach his first Masters final.
This has the makings of a close clash with both men in fine form and both well-suited to the conditions in Rome. Zverev leads the head-to-head 4-2 and has won both of their most recent matches. But last time they met on the clay, it was Jarry who came out on top – beating the German in straight-sets in the semifinals in Geneva last season. If he can maintain the leve he has displayed so far this week, he should have a good chance of repeating the feat.
Jarry will need to manage his nerves, however, in what is the biggest match of his career to date. Zverev, in contrast, has already won an Olympic gold medal and two titles at the ATP Finals, as well as five titles at this level. That gulf in experience may well have a decisive impact in a match where there is otherwise little to split the two.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
