An entertaining showdown between Denis Shapovalov and Grigor Dimitrov can be expected on Saturday at the Rome Masters. Matteo Berrettini and Casper Ruud are also aiming for a place in the semifinals.
(12) Denis Shapovalov vs. (15) Grigor Dimitrov
Shapovalov and Dimitrov will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Saturday. Dimitrov has won both of their previous encounters in straight sets–6-4, 6-3 at the Toronto Masters in 2016 and 6-3, 7-6(3) earlier this season on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam.
Of course, Shapovalov is a much different player than he was in 2016 and he is playing better now that he was back in February. The 21-year-old Canadian is up to 14th in the rankings thanks in part to a quarterfinal run at the U.S. Open. So far in Rome he has dismissed Guido Pella, Pedro Martinez, and Ugo Humbert. Dimitrov, who lost early in both of the New York-based events, has advanced this week by taking out Gianluca Mager, Yoshihito Nishioka, and Jannik Sinner. Shapovalov is in superior form right now and his game seems to work better on clay than Dimitrov’s, so the No. 12 seed should be able to avenge his previous losses.
Pick: Shapovalov in 3
(4) Matteo Berrettini vs. Casper Ruud
Berrettini and Ruud will be facing each other for the second time since tennis restarted when they meet again on Saturday. During third-round action at the U.S. Open, Berrettini bulldozed his way to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 rout. However, the good news for Ruud is that the head-to-head series stands at 1-1; the Norwegian crushed the Italian 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 at last year’s French Open.
As those results suggest, the surface is a massive factor. Ruud is without question a clay-court specialist, so it is no surprise to see him in the Rome quarterfinals. The world No. 34 earned his spot there by beating Karen Khachanov, Lorenzo Sonego, and Marin Cilic, surrendering just one set to Khachanov. Berrettini has not dropped a set through two matches, but he needed a pair of tiebreakers to get past Stefano Travaglia on Friday. Given the relatively slow conditions on this surface, Ruud should once again have the edge like he did at Roland Garros.
Pick: Ruud in 3
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Dimitrov is a spent force these days .Shapo in three
Ruud in three , too good on clay .
Shapo in 3 and Berrettini in 2
Excellent prediction with Rudd
Djokovic knows when its a danger match and he is certainly a bit tense during this one.