There are a number of intriguing second-round clashes on the slate on day three at the ATP Rome event and it promises to be an entertaining day of tennis at the Foro Italico as the big hitters take to the court. We here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Daniil Medvedev vs Cameron Norrie and Alexander Zverev vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli. But who will advance to the third round?
ATP Rome Day 3 Predictions
Grigor Dimitrov vs Francesco Passaro
Head-to-head: Passaro 1-0 Dimitrov
This will be a good litmus test for Grigor Dmitrov. He lost to Francesco Passaro in their only career meeting at the Australian Open earlier this year, but that loss came via the experienced Bulgarian’s retirement with Dimitrov sustaining a groin injury during the match. Passaro has battled his own injury issues in the last two months, but secured a priceless win over Tseng on his return to action. Unless something is physically off, Dimitrov should even this head-to-head.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
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Alexei Popyrin vs Carlos Taberner
Head-to-head: Popyrin 1-0 Taberner
Carlos Taberner’s opening round win against Alexander Kovacevic was unlikely anything he served up in qualifying, where he inflicted a couple of 6-0 sets and a 6-1 set. He was a game away from defeat but broke back at 3-5 down in the final set. Alexei Popyrin had the luxury of getting a straight ticket into the second round as a seed. But the Australian could do with a win from somewhere after his recent three-match losing run. Taberner usually invites the grind with supreme shot tolerance and execution. Popyrin’s comfort level on clay is far from elite, and this could end dismally for the 24th seed.
Prediction: Taberner in 3
Denis Shapovalov vs Vilius Gaubas
Head-to-head: first meeting
Denis Shapovalov crashed out in the opening round in this tournament last season. The Canadian has posted a few underwhelming performances already in this year’s clay swing, with the ignominy of losing to a 374th-ranked opponent in Munich, albeit via retirement, among his most disappointing results. Vilius Gaubas has played a lot of clay-court matches since the start of April and is a respectable 15-5 on the surface this season. He’s picked up three wins in Rome (two in qualifying). Gaubas is clearly trending up, and Shapovalov might need to lock in from the first point.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 2
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Arthur Fils vs Tallon Griekspoor
Head-to-head: Fils 2-1 Griekspoor
Arthur Fils settled an entertaining match against Tallon Griekspoor in Monte Carlo in three sets. The Frenchman emerged as one of the tour’s top performers on clay after that tournament, but he’s lost his last two matches coming to Rome. Griekspoor has already played one match this week, fighting back from a set down to beat Miomir Kecmanovic. Fils and Griekspoor are baseline-anchored players, and that means we will see plenty of long rallies and potentially another three-set match. Fils’ explosive shotmaking in tight moments will probably suffice to wear down the Dutchman.
Prediction: Fils in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
