Rome R1 previews and predictions: Fognini vs. Monfils, Djokovic vs. Dolgopolov

A circus atmosphere could be in the cards for Fabio Fognini vs. Gael Monfils on Monday in Rome. The first-round schedule is also continuing with a showdown between Novak Djokovic and another injury-plagued player in Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Fabio Fognini vs. Gael Monfils

Fognini and Monfils will be squaring off for the eighth time in their careers when they collide in round one of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Monday night. Monfils owns a 4-3 lead in the head-to-head series, which is tied up at two wins apiece on clay. They have split a pair of five-setters at the French Open and two 2013 encounters also resulted in one victory for each player (Monfils in Nice, Fognini in Umag).

Monfils will likely be unseeded at Roland Garros, because he is heading into Rome at No. 39 in the world–due mostly to inactivity but also to poor play. The draw did not help him out in Madrid (the Frenchman fell to Rafael Nadal in the last 32) and it is tough in Rome, too, with a possible second-round match against Dominic Thiem and most likely Nadal in the quarterfinals. Fognini, meanwhile, is just 7-10 lifetime in Rome. Having never previously won back-to-back matches, however, the 21st-ranked Italian reached the third round in both 2015 and 2017. When motivated, Fognini has the capability of treating the home crowd to impressive displays. This contest will undoubtedly consist of wild momentum swings, but in this kind of atmosphere the 30-year-old should remain on top of his game for long enough stretches to get the best of a rusty opponent.

Pick: Fognini in 3

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(11) Novak Djokovic vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov

Djokovic and Dolgopolov will be going head-to-head for the sixth time in their careers on Monday. All five of their previous meetings have gone Djokovic’s way, but their first-ever set foretold some future competitiveness. Djokovic, who won an opening tiebreaker 16-14 at the 2011 U.S. Open, has defeated Dolgopolov in straight sets only twice (in the aforementioned match and again at none other than the Rome Masters in 2013). They have not faced each other since 2015, when Djokovic got the job done 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-0 in Miami and 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 in Cincinnati.

The former world No. 1 is a shadow of his old self at the moment, entering Rome at 6-6 on the year as he makes his way back from various physical problems. Djokovic’s clay-court swing includes a third-round loss in Monte-Carlo (Dominic Thiem), an opening setback in Barcelona (Martin Klizan), and a second-round exit from Madrid (Kyle Edmund). Whereas the Serb has not been playing well, Dolgopolov has basically not been playing at all. The 54th-ranked Ukrainian has appeared in just four tournaments this season, including only one since the Australian Open–suffering a first-round loss to Andrea Arnaboldi in Marrakech. Even a struggling Djokovic should have no trouble extending Dolgopolov’s woes.

Pick: Djokovic in 2

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