Spots in the second week of the Rome Masters will be up for grabs when Novak Djokovic faces Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday. Another intriguing third-round showdown will see Italy’s own Fabio Fognini battle Holger Rune.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (26) Grigor Dimitrov
Djokovic and Dimitrov will be squaring off for the 12th time in their careers when they meet again in round three of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday. The head-to-head series stands at 10-1 in favor of Djokovic, who has won eight in a row since losing to Dimitrov at the 2013 Madrid Masters. They most recently faced each other earlier this year at the Australian Open, where the top-ranked Serb looked vulnerable in the early rounds but still cruised 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-4.
Although Djokovic continues to be far from his best level, he did well to scrape past an in-form Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(5), 6-2 on Friday night in Rome. Dimitrov beat Stan Wawrinka 7-6(4), 6-3, but the 33rd-ranked Bulgarian is still a modest 12-8 for his 2023 campaign. It should also be noted that he is 0-10 in his last 10 matches against opponents ranked in the top five since upsetting Daniil Medvedev at the 2021 Indian Wells Masters. This will probably be another straight-setter even if Djokovic is still playing at less than his normal standard.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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(WC) Fabio Fognini vs. (7) Holger Rune
Rune is looking to complete the Triple Crown of circus-like atmospheres at the three clay-court Masters 1000 events. The 20-year-old Dane checked off those boxes against Jannik Sinner in Monte-Carlo (basically a home match for the Italian) and against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Madrid. Now he runs into Fognini on the Italian’s Rome stomping grounds. Anything less than an absolutely wild affair between two of the sport’s most combustible characters would be a disappointment for tennis fans.
If Fognini comes to play, it could also be a high-quality contest. Rune has been in awesome form dating back to last fall and Fognini is playing inspired tennis through two rounds of this tournament. The world No. 130 opened with a three-set victory over Andy Murray before ousting 30th seed Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 7-6(6). Fognini’s talent remains such that he can beat anyone on any given day, but Rune thrives in lively atmospheres and his game is more likely to withstand the pressure moments of a long, competitive match.
Pick: Rune in 3
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WWW?
“……who has won eight in a row since losing to Dimitrov at the 2013 Rome Masters.”
It was Madrid masters, not Rome, infamous match with nasty Spanish fans.
Novak let his concentration slip, and Dimitrov takes the 2nd set.
Dimitrov can be slippery if he is on. Sure, he has only beaten Novak once in his entire career. (Madrid Masters 2013)
This would not be good for my Rome ATP bracket.
I saw Novak won.Not gonna lose to Dimi!!😀
Saw a bit of it and Novak just targeted that one handed back hand. Feel sorry for Dimi., is it talent wasted, or not enough talent in the first place, or did he miss out at a crucial time by being a bit of a lothario?
That one handed bh isn’t up to the job is it?
But, in a world shattering one off, Mac made interesting points in past about how he gets down on himself/ beats himself up mentally. Maybe this is partly why he was a lothario? People who don’t like themselves are often addicts.
I saw Dimi up close at Queens yoinks ago when his star was rising. He was a very, very pretty boy 🙂 Difficult to resist the adoration of female/players fans I guess. Not me I hasten to add! As you know my heart belongs to Andy!
Lucky you, Margot! You guessed what I am thinking about him. It would be hard not to fall to temptation; then later, there was the time, too much time, he became useless.
That was never my problem. I know how many troubles are genetic,
Amy, It’s essential that I could get my self-esteem and had good teachers in life. I apologize if I sound like I am putting myself down. I don’t mean to do that or go on about it.
We have not heard from Farah Diba. I will go post to her on the non-tennis forum.
In another universe, Dimitry would slide to his butt as he did and make that shot a winner when he was sitting on the ground. And he would have several GS trophies in his man cave.
He is exceptional. I like seeing him in the draw and don’t wish him ill will. Lothario, now there is a word to use more if I can remember it. I remember how stupid I was, and it made me want to hide as I got older, and I eventually got addicted. Now I am much older and with much counsel, I think I understand “Lothario” meaning. Dimitry fits, but I believe his addiction was different than mine. The addiction to whatever it is is just a way to forget for a time and numb the pain of hating yourself. To what degree of a lothario one becomes has to do with how much our parents or whoever raises us. I don’t think we are born to be or choose to be a Lothario.
Thank you, amy and Margot. You did ask me, but I went on about it 😀
meant to say you did not ask me…
On I went.
There are genetic reasons for addiction Elizabeth. Like madness it can be inherited as part of the structure o f DNA. Can skip a generation or 2 so people don’t see the link.
Of course environmental factors also create addiction. And that’s very complex. There is a,straight route between trauma and addiction. Not hard to see why someone becomes an addict if they grow up feeling unloved or very insecure.
I don’t know why you describe yourself as stupid Elizabeth! You have done it several times on this site. It’s obvious you’re not. ( I am not just saying that!)
There are inherited genes which predispose you towards being fat;alcoholism &tc.
I meant to say you did not ask me to go on and on ,but there I went
I have not yet mastered posting. Hand over face 🙁
If I am not mistaken, Dimitrov the Gigolo hasn’t won a title since ATP finals 2017, that’s almost 6 years, it was a good practice match for Nole, nothing more nothing less, though he lost the focus in the second, he should have won the match in easy two.
There are visible improvements in Nole’s game compared to MC and Banja Lika but he is still nowhere near his best.