Seeds are kicking off their Rome campaigns on Friday, and that includes Ben Shelton and Miomir Kecmanovic. Shelton will see Alexander Bublik on the other side of the net, while Kecmanovic will face Fabio Fognini.
Alexander Bublik vs. (28) Ben Shelton
Advancing one round at any clay-court tournament is good for Bublik–especially at the Masters 1000 level and with an accomplished clay-courter on the other side of the set. Bublik secured a win at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia when he defeated Pedro Martinez 6-3, 7-6(4) on Wednesday. The 49th-ranked Kazakh is still a horrendous 6-15 this season and he is 49-50 lifetime on clay, including an anemic 17-32 dating back to the start of 2018.
Up next for Bublik on Friday is a first-ever meeting with Shelton. The 35th-ranked American is a clay-court novice, but early returns are at least somewhat encouraging. He advanced one round in both Estoril and Barcelona, plus he is coming off a Challenger quarterfinal in Cagliari (lost to Laslo Djere in a tight three-setter). Perhaps most importantly, Shelton has already established himself as a tenacious fighter whereas Bublik is often there to just put on a show. Shelton will want this one more.
Pick: Shelton in 2
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(30) Miomir Kecmanovic vs. (WC) Fabio Fognini
Kecmanovic and Fognini will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Friday. Their only previous encounter also came during the clay-court swing in 2021, with Fognini prevailing 6-2, 7-5 in round one of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Of course, it has only been downhill for the Italian since that point in time. Now 35 years old, he is well past his prime and struggling down at 130th in the rankings. Fognini did well to beat Andy Murray 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Wednesday night, but he is still just 3-8 on the main tour in 2023 and he didn’t look quite 100 percent physically at the end of that match.
With a bye as the No. 30 seed, Kecmanovic is well rested heading into this one. The 23-year-old Serb has picked up 14 ATP-level match victories this season, including four in Estoril (finished runner-up to Casper Ruud) and two in Banja Luka. Kecmanovic is a very good clay-court player and will likely be way too good–and too mentally tough–for Fognini.
Pick: Kecmanovic in 2
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WWW?
Shelton in 3; Kec in 3.
Stick to games you can rig like business and politics.
Or the NBA
I’m sure if there was enough money at stake in the outcome of a tennis match, you guys would’ve worked out how to rig it by now also even though you try your best through the media. You guys just profit off the outcome regardless, so you’re ok with losing a match. Losing a tennis match doesn’t jeopardise your control of the world.
Control of the World, who would want a job like that?
Miomar did his best, but the crowd cheered on Fabio, and he did not disappoint!
It would have been great to be there.
In a court nearby, Bublik had the love of the Italians. I wasn’t surprised he won the match, but I was surprised that Ben Shelton got a set!
The last match is on now: Jasmine Paolini vs. Elena Rybakina. Hard to tell if Elena Rybakina enjoys the late-night match, but there is still a decent amount of tennis fans there. I have been watching tennis most of the day, and it’s time to act like I did something and go. But I am confident Elina Rybakina will win this match.
tough conditions for Rybak but she’s rolling now
Posting as females or having them post to create an illusion of an active balanced forum. If females are posting then your intentions must be good.
Posting about foreign players and in particular players from Russia to create an impression that you’re universal and non-discromubsyiry while at the same time you’re country rigs everything to maintain its dominance over the world .
Is there anything you do that doesn’t involve some degree of deception???
“non-discriminatory”
“Control of the World, who would want a job like that?”
Your government and to less extent your junior partner UK.