Lorenzo Musetti will take the court in front of the home crowd against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Friday. Alexander Bublik will also be in action at the Rome Masters against Sebastian Baez.
(8) Lorenzo Musetti vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti is a frequent fixture in the business end of tournaments. Notably, he made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and was leading Novak Djokovic by two sets when he was forced to retire with a leg injury. What he rarely does is win titles. Despite a career-high ranking of No. 5 in the world, Musetti has captured only two ATP titles.
Musetti is an accomplished clay-courter who is playing at home — not favorable for opponent Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday night. The Frenchman is ranked 58th, owing to a string of poor results that started at the Australian Open and continued through his first-round ouster in Miami in March. There is little to suggest that Mpetshi Perricard is poised to do much better in Rome.
Cheryl pick: Musetti in 2
Ricky pick: Musetti in 2
(9) Alexander Bublik vs. Sebastian Baez
Alexander Bublik started off the clay season in good form, making his way to the quarterfinals in Monte-Carlo. He hasn’t had success since — literally. Two tournaments and two match losses. The good news for the world No. 11 is that the courts in Rome are much more like Monte-Carlo than they are Madrid.
Bublik should also benefit from facing world No. 65 Sebastian Baez from Argentina, who has underperformed on European clay this spring — and has always been far worse in Europe than in South America. Despite two losses in a row, I’m giving the nod to Bublik. Look for the Kazakhstani to move into the third round.
Cheryl pick: Bublik in 3
Ricky pick: Bublik in 2