By Jack McArdle
- Novak Djokovic [1] vs Aslan Karatsev
- Felix Auger-Aliassime [8] vs Alejandro Davidovich-Fokine
- Ons Jabeur [9] vs Sorana Cirstea
ROME, ITALY- As Ons Jabeur looks to continue good form against Sorana Cirstea, Novak Djokovic and Felix Auger-Aliassime open their Rome campaigns.
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Novak Djokovic [1] vs Aslan Karatsev H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Novak Djokovic [1] vs Aslan Karatsev | H2H: Tied at 1-1 |
| ATP Rome | Rome, Italy |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €39,070 |
| Third on Centre Court not before 1:30pm (12:30pm BST) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Novak Djokovic is starting to find his best form again in the clay season. Having reached the semi-final of his last two events, the Serb enters Rome looking for a sixth title here.
Aslan Karatsev has not been in the best of form this year. The Russian has just beaten Lloyd Harris to end a win drought since Miami in March. However, he knows how to beat Djokovic on the clay having done so last year.
Djokovic lost in his home city of Belgrade to Karatsev in three tight sets, so these two know how to have a battle. However, considering Karatsev’s recent form this might prove too much in his return to winning ways.
Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets.
Felix Auger-Aliassime [8] vs Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Felix Auger-Aliassime [8] vs Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina | H2H: Auger-Aliassime leads 1-0 |
| ATP Rome | Rome, Italy |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €39,070 |
| Fourth on Pietrangeli at 5pm (4pm BST). | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Felix Auger-Aliassime impressed with his run in Madrid last week, reaching the quarter-final for the first time. The Canadian is looking to consolidate a spot inside the top-10 this week having made his debut in January.
Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina has failed to impress on the Spanish clay in the same way he did in Monte-Carlo, having lost out in the final to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Having scraped past Ilya Ivashka, the Spaniard will be well adjusted to the altitude change of the clay.
Expect a long exchange here. These two know how to knuckle down and fight when behind. Davidovich-Fokina might have an edge here, having reached the third round as a qualifier last year.
Prediction: Davidovich-Fokina in three sets.
Ons Jabeur [9] vs Sorana Cirstea H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Ons Jabeur [9] vs Sorana Cirstea | H2H: Cirstea leads 2-0 |
| WTA Rome | Rome, Italy |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €9,465 |
| Fourth on Centre court at 7pm (6pm BST) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Ons Jabeur has just won the biggest title of her career in Madrid. The Tunisian is back at her highest ranking of No.7 in the world, and playing with loads of freedom on the clay.
Sorana Cirstea enters Rome having had a disappointing opening round loss last week in Madrid. The Romanian does know how to turn it up on the clay though, with her last title coming in Istanbul on the dirt last year.
Cirstea leads the head-to-head having never lost to the ninth seed. However, Jabeur is playing some of the best tennis of her career at the moment and she should carry this momentum onto Rome well.
Prediction: Jabeur in striaght sets.
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