The sixth day in Rome will see home favourite Jannik Sinner continue his return to the sport after his doping ban. He is up against a tricky opponent, Jesper De Jong, who hasn’t dropped a set in Rome. Several other exciting matches are lined up as we approach the quarterfinal stages. Who will advance?
ATP Rome Day 6 Predictions
Tommy Paul vs Tomas Machac
Head–to–Head: Paul 0 vs 2 Machac
Tommy Paul successfully converted all four of his break points and did not face any against him as he swiftly advanced to the third round of the Italian Open with a straightforward 6-1 6-4 victory over Roberto Bautista Agut. The American still has to protect a substantial number of ATP ranking points after reaching the semi-finals of this tournament last year.
He will now compete against Tomas Machac, who overcame American teen Learner Tien in straight sets in yet another match in which the Czech star demonstrated his efficient service game.
Paul hasn’t defeated Machac in two attempts, both matches being on clay courts. While the American has shown he is a decent player on clay, his younger opponent has proven his mettle more on the surface. If he holds his serve all through, he can win this encounter.
Prediction: Machac in 3
Jakub Mensik vs Fabian Marozsan
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Jakub Mensik advanced to the third round after a hard-fought, straight-sets victory over Matteo Gigante. Although both sets were closely contested, Mensik was solid in his service games, never facing a break point as his powerful serve remained effective throughout. He will next face Fabian Marozsan, who triumphed over 16th seed Andrey Rublev in three sets. The Hungarian delivered an impressive performance, generating numerous opportunities on Rublev’s service games. He has positive memories of Rome, having reached the fourth round here in 2023 during his debut, and he has now secured victories against notable players like Rublev and João Fonseca to reach the third round again this year.
Mensik may find the Hungarian challenging, as Marozsan also reached the semi-finals in Munich last month; however, the Czech’s serve remains a reliable asset and should generate enough easy points for the 20th seed to secure a win.
Prediction: Mensik in 3.
Sebastian Korda vs Jaume Munar
Head–to–Head: Korda 1 vs 0 Munar
Jaume Munar advanced to the third round after decisively defeating 12th seed Ben Shelton, with the Spaniard allowing just one break point opportunity throughout the match, and will now face another American, Sebastian Korda.
Korda also secured his second-round victory in straight sets, defeating Aleksander Vukic without dropping his serve. This marks the second consecutive third-round appearance for the American, who will aim to progress further after being eliminated at this stage last time in Madrid.
Munar entered this tournament with somewhat shaky form, but he will gain confidence from his dominant win over Shelton. His gritty clay-court style could pose challenges for Korda. While it may be a close match, we lean towards the Spaniard winning in three sets.
Prediction: Munar in 3.
Jannik Sinner vs Jesper De Jong
Head–to–Head: Sinner 1 vs 0 De Jong
Jannik Sinner made his much-anticipated comeback in the second round of the Italian Open after a three-month suspension due to a doping issue, which began with a victory. The home crowd warmly welcomed him as he defeated Mariano Navone in straight sets. He is now set to face Jesper de Jong, who stepped into the main draw as a lucky loser, but upset 25th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the previous round. Although the Spaniard struggled throughout the match, it was still an impressive display from the Dutch player, who will now challenge the world number one.
They faced each other once before in the second round of the Australian Open last year, where Sinner effortlessly defeated the Dutchman in straight sets on his way to clinching his first major title. Having shaken off some rust in his first match in three months, Sinner is expected to elevate his game against De Jong and secure a smooth win.
Prediction: Sinner in 2.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
