Rafael Nadal will contest his Rome opener against Fabio Fognini on Wednesday. Nadal is joined in second-round action by fellow Spaniards David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco.
Fabio Fognini vs. (5) Rafael Nadal
Nadal brings with him a 36-2 lifetime record at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia as he heads into his 2013 tournament debut on Wednesday. Nadal has won the event six times, including last year when he avenged a 2011 final defeat to Novak Djokovic. The fifth-ranked Spaniard saw his Monte-Carlo reign come to an end last month, but his Madrid performance bodes well for his chances in Rome. Nadal captured his second clay-court title in Madrid by rolling over an in-form Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday. The victory improved Nadal’s 2013 record to 31-2, which already includes five ATP titles (two of the Masters variety).
Up first for the former world No. 1 in Rome is Fabio Fognini, whom he has never faced. Fognini was dealt an all-Italian opener against Andreas Seppi (a 2012 quarterfinalist) and he stormed through it 6-4, 6-1. The host nation’s No. 2 player now has 15 match wins this year and he registers one spot off his career-high ranking at 25th in the world. Fognini reached the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals earlier this spring, so he is playing especially well at the moment.
There is no doubt Fognini has the talent to hang with anyone on tour on any given day. The question, as always, is what kind of mentality he will bring to the table. If the Italian fans can inspire their man to give 100 percent the entire way, each of the two sets against Nadal could be both entertaining and competitive. Fognini has a solid two-handed backhand and he likes hitting it even at shoulder height, so Nadal’s heavy topspin may not be too much of a problem. Either way, though, the fifth seed is simply too good on clay and too good in Rome. Plus, he has a ton of confidence in the aftermath of Madrid.
Pick: Nadal 6-3, 6-3
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(4) David Ferrer vs. Fernando Verdasco
Verdasco and Ferrer will be squaring off for the 16th time in their careers when the two Spaniards collide in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday afternoon. Ferrer leads the head-to-head series 8-7, but Verdasco holds a 6-5 edge in clay-court encounters. They last met at the same stage of this same tournament in 2012, when Ferrer prevailed 6-3, 7-6(3). Their most memorable showdown came in round four of the 2010 U.S. Open, with Verdasco pulling out an epic 5-7, 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4) victory.
Neither man has set the tennis world on fire in 2013, but a clear edge in current form goes to Ferrer. The world No. 4 is 30-8 for the season, which includes two titles and three runner-up finishes (including one in Miami). Verdasco is a horrendous 6-9 for the year, but he is actually showing signs of improvement. The world No. 53 advanced two rounds last week in Madrid and he beat Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in his Rome opener on Tuesday. Verdasco has the firepower to make this competitive, but Ferrer will likely be too consistent for a relatively out-of-form opponent.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
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