Rome R3 previews and predictions: Rublev vs. Davidovich Fokina, Tiafoe vs. Musetti

A couple of all-seeded matchups will be on display at the Rome Masters when third-round competition concludes on Monday. Andrey Rublev is going up against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Frances Tiafoe is facing Lorenzo Musetti.

(6) Andrey Rublev vs. (27) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

It will be a rematch of one of 2023’s most absurd contests when Rublev and Davidovich Fokina do battle once again in round three of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Monday. At the ATP 500 in Dubai a few months ago, Davidovich Fokina led by a set and 6-1 in the second-set tiebreaker only to squander quintuple match point. Rublev somehow forced a third, took a 6-1 lead of his own in the next ‘breaker, and finally completed a 1-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(3) comeback.

Rublev leads the overall head-to-head series 2-0, having also prevailed 7-5, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 at the 2020 French Open. The world No. 6 should like his chances again, as his current clay-court swing includes his biggest-ever title at the Monte-Carlo Masters and a runner-up effort in Banja Luka. Davidovich Fokina is also playing well and both guys opened with easy straight-set victories, so this should be one of the better matches on Monday.

Pick: Rublev in 3

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(18) Lorenzo Musetti vs. (12) Frances Tiafoe

The Italian contingent has been in decent enough form this fortnight, with three men from the host nation still alive in the draw. One of them is Musetti, who kicked off his tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of compatriot Matteo Arnaldi on Sunday. The world No. 19 arrived in Rome last Friday but did not play his first match until nine days later, as he got a first-round bye and then Saturday was a rainout. Musetti is a mediocre 12-11 this season, but recent momentum includes an upset of Novak Djokovic en route to the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals followed by a semifinal showing in Barcelona.

Up next for the 21-year-old on Monday is a fifth meeting with Tiafoe, and it will break a 2-2 tie in the head-to-head series (1-1 on the main tour). Although clay may favor Musetti on paper, they have split two previous encounters on this surface and Tiafoe is quietly putting together a solid clay-court resume. The 12th-ranked American won the Houston title earlier this spring and has twice finished runner-up in Estoril (2018, 2022). Although Musetti has home-court advantage, Tiafoe always thrives in lively atmospheres and he is the more consistent player of the two right now.

Pick: Tiafoe in 3

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