Hopefully the weather will be a bit better than on Wednesday and the bottom half of the men’s draw can complete their opening round matches without interruptions. Matteo Arnaldi is one of the crowd favorites in Rome, but he’s facing Tomas Machac whom he trails 0-2 in the head-to-head. Can the 23-year-old turn that matchup around at ATP Rome?
ATP Rome Day 2 Predictions
Alexandre Muller vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-head: First meeting
Marton Fucsovics is technically on a 7-match winning streak, because he withdrew ahead of his Cagliari quarterfinal with Daniel Elahi Galan last week. The Hungarian has since said that it was a minor issue and he’s going to be fine for Rome, but we’ll see how that works out in practice. The good news for him is that the draw looks rather manageable. Alexandre Muller has fallen out of the Top 100 and doesn’t seem like he’s on his way back up.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Pedro Cachin
Head-to-head: Struff 1-0
Pedro Cachin finally snapped his half-year-long losing streak in Madrid, but will that be a permanent change? The altitude conditions in Spain were a perfect fit for his game, Rome won’t be quite as helpful. That doesn’t mean he’s never done well on slow clay, it’s just questionable if he’ll find a way to excel again. Given Jan-Lennard Struff is on the other side of the net and he’s been on fire recently, it’s definitely the German who has to be considered the favorite here.
Prediction: Struff in 2
Marcos Giron vs Emil Ruusvuori
Head-to-head: Giron 2-0
Emil Ruusuvuori hasn’t won a match since February and while he missed some tournaments due to injury, getting that winning feeling back doesn’t have to be easy. He took a set in both clay performances so far though and this looks like the perfect opportunity. Marcos Giron caught some players off-guard on the dirt in the past, but his last few showings didn’t really say that. It’s an important match for Ruusuvuori as he needs a win and drew an opponent he should be beating on this surface.
Prediction: Ruusuvori in 2
Tomas Machac vs Matteo Arnaldi
Head-to-head: Machac 2-0
These two have already battled at the ATP 1000 level this year with Tomas Machac prevailing in Miami. Rome could be a bit more to Matteo Arnaldi’s liking with the Czech unable to take time away as effectively off the ground. Arnaldi’s game is still a work in progress and he’s constantly on the verge of really putting it together. A big event at home doesn’t sound like the worst chance to keep going in the right direction. Clay might generally suit him in the Machac matchup as well.
Prediction: Arnaldi in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
