A couple of all-seeded showdowns will be on the Rome schedule as third-round competition gets underway on Sunday. An all-American affair pits Taylor Fritz against Sebastian Korda, while Karen Khachanov faces Francisco Cerundolo.
(11) Taylor Fritz vs. (24) Sebastian Korda
Fritz and Korda will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday afternoon. Their only previous encounter also came on European clay at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters, where Fritz prevailed 7-6(4), 7-5.
Fast forward two years and Fritz is certainly the favorite once again, with 20 match wins already this season and a ranking of No. 13 in the world. The 26-year-old, who is coming off a final appearance in Munich and a semifinal showing in Madrid, opened in Rome with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Fabio Fognini on Friday. Korda battled to a 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Flavio Cobolli in what was a raucous atmosphere at the Foro Italico. The world No. 27 is playing decent at the moment, but his 2024 campaign has largely been a disappointment and now he runs into a red-hot opponent. Look for Fritz to advance.
Pick: Fritz in 2
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(20) Francisco Cerundolo vs. (16) Karen Khachanov
Strangely, Khachanov vs. Cerundolo may be becoming one of 2024’s most notable rivalries–albeit a lopsided one–in terms of quality. All four of their previous meetings have gone Khachanov’s way, but three have required final sets. That includes a pair of contests earlier this spring; the Russian got the job done 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(5) in Miami before overcoming Cerundolo 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Monte-Carlo.
Cerundolo has done well to rebound from a hopeless start to his year, winning at least one match at six of his last seven tournaments–including three in Madrid. The 22nd-ranked Argentine opened in Rome by crushing Matteo Gigante 6-1, 6-3, while Khachanov took care over Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-4. This should be another entertaining, high-quality contest, but it’s been close but no cigar in this matchup for Cerundolo in the past and there is no reason to think anything will be different on Sunday.
Pick: Khachanov in 3
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