The ATP Rome Masters 1000 2026 edition is underway with Round of 128 action set to be completed on Day 2. The top seeds have been awarded byes into the second round, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot of exciting battles on our hands. As ever, we preview and predict all the scheduled matches for you. But who will advance?
ATP Rome Day 2 Predictions
Luca Nardi vs Andrea Pellegrino
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Luca Nardi is not arriving at this matchup with much match experience under his belt, which could be a factor. Andrea Pellegrino, by contrast, has already battled through the qualifying rounds this week and should be sharper competitively. Expect a tight all-Italian contest, but Pellegrino looks slightly more match-ready at this stage.
Prediction: Pellegrino in 3
Alex Michelsen vs Sebastian Ofner
Head-to-head: Michelsen 1-1 Ofner
This is a tough match to call on paper. Sebastian Ofner has struggled to find consistent results in 2026 so far, while Alex Michelsen comes to ATP Rome with a more respectable win–loss record this season. Both players serve big and effectively, but Michelsen has looked the more comfortable and reliable from the baseline in recent outings, which could give him a slight edge.
Prediction: Michelsen in 2
Juan Manuel Cerundolo vs Cristian Garin
Head-to-head: Cerundolo 0-1 Garin
Neither player has enjoyed a particularly strong 2026 season so far, despite both being natural clay-court operators. Cristian Garin did win their only previous meeting earlier this year in Santiago on clay over Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a three-setter, which gives him a slight edge coming into this one. From the baseline, the matchup looks fairly even, though Garin is the slightly more aggressive of the two, and that could prove decisive in a tight contest.
Prediction: Garin in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Machac
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 1-1 Machac
This is an intriguing matchup. Stefanos Tsitsipas appears to be finding some momentum ahead of Roland Garros as he looks to bounce back from a tough loss to Casper Ruud in Madrid. Tomas Machac is a solid baseliner, but he can lack the variety often required on clay, and that could hurt him at ATP Rome. Expect Tsitsipas to fight hard, serve well, and have the edge in key moments.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
