Italian qualifier Lorenzi Musetti will be back on the court when he faces Kei Nishikori during second-round action in Rome on Thursday. Gael Monfils is kicking off his campaign against qualifier Dominik Koepfer.
(Q) Lorenzo Musetti vs. Kei Nishikori
Musetti will be looking to build on a monumental first-ever ATP Tour win when he goes up against Nishikori at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Thursday night. The 18-year-old Italian qualified for the main draw and then stunned Stan Wawrinka 6-0, 7-6(2) on Tuesday. With that the world No. 249 has announced himself to the tennis world.
A win over a rusty Nishikori would not be as impressive in itself, but it would be quite a statement given the stage–second round of a Masters 100 tournament–and how difficult it is to follow up on such huge moment. Nishikori lost right away last week in Kitzbuhel, but he pushed eventual champion Miomir Kecamanovic to three sets. The world No. 35 from Japan improved in his Rome opener, scoring a solid clay-court win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Nishikori will play much closer to the baseline than Wawrinka and won’t give Musetti as much time to set up for his shots, making the physical test just as difficult as the mental one for the youngster.
Pick: Nishikori in 3
(Q) Dominik Koepfer vs. (5) Gael Monfils
Monfils is playing a match for the first time since the Dubai event back in January–specifically since his epic choke against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. The ninth-ranked Frenchman skipped Cincinnati and the U.S. Open so he has at least been getting plenty of practice on clay, but practice certainly is not the same as a match.
Up first for Monfils on Thursday is Koepfer, whom the fifth seed has never faced. Koepfer has already contested five clay-court matches over the past two weeks. The 97th-ranked German successfully qualified in Rome and then upset Alex de Minaur in a third-set tiebreaker on Tuesday. A full day off will help the underdog make this one competitive–and it will be, mainly due to Monfils’ rust.
Pick: Monfils in 3
Nishikori is quite accomplished on the clay. Musetti, however, is playing exceptionally well and is really good. If Lorenzo can hold his nerves, he may win this one too … https://www.138mph.com/sinner-and-musetti-prevailed-in-rome-italy/
Musetti in 2; Koepfer over a rusty Monfils….in 2.