ATP Rome Tuesday Preview

Robin Soderling vs. Fernando Verdasco

Robin Soderling will begin his challenge in Rome with a second round match against Fernando Verdasco. Robin Soderling is the fifth seed for this season’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and was handed a bye for the first round. The Swede will now take on Fernando Verdasco in a second round clash that should attract a big crowd. Soderling is on good form, and put together a decent run in Madrid this month. He’s already won 3 ATP World Tour titles this year, and could be a major contender here in Rome.

Verdasco hasn’t been quite so impressive, and is still searching for his first title of the season. Even so, the world No. 17 can trouble Soderling here, .. He’s one of the best clay court players on the tour, and managed to win his most recent contest against the world No. 5.

Soderling holds a 4-2 head to head lead against Verdasco, and more significantly has a 2-1 record against the Spaniard on clay. The two-time French Open runner-up is considered to be the favourite here, but this should be a close match. If both players are on form, this could be one of the tournament’s most exciting showdowns.

John Isner vs. Juan-Ignacio Chela

John Isner has been pitted against Juan-Ignacio Chela in round one of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. John Isner hasn’t been at his best this season, and enters this year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia with a 9-10 season record. He will be hoping to make a decent run at this week’s event, but is set for a tough first round match against Juan Ignacio-Chela. Isner has the height advantage here, and his serve could have a major influence on the match. Chela isn’t ranked far behind Isner, and is more than comfortable on clay courts. The Argentine has the ability to win this match, and has a good chance if he can secure a few breaks of serve. Chela has won 42 percent of his points on return this year, so this is a serious possibility.

Chela currently has a 1-0 head to head record against Isner following an epic five-setter at Roland Garros in 2008. Following this close match, it seems like Tuesday’s showdown could also be an exciting one. This is a difficult match to call, though Chela appears to be the favourite.

Nicolas Almagro vs. Simone Bolelli

Nicolas Almagro will be aiming to contend for this year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and should be looking to secure a comfortable victory over Simone Bolelli in the first round on Tuesday. The Spaniard has made a great start to 2011, and has broken into the top ten and won two ATP titles already. The world No. 10 will be a major threat in this competition if he can reproduce his Golden swing form.

Bolelli is ranked just outside of the top hundred, and isn’t expected to trouble Almagro too much. That said, past form indicates that Almagro struggles against the Italian, and Tuesday’s first round match could be a real crowd pleaser. Bolelli hasn’t been too impressive at ATP World Tour level though, and has a 0-3 record for the season.

Bolelli holds a 2-1 head to head lead against Almagro, but lost his last match against him. Almagro is the clear favourite to make it through to round two, and it will be a fairly big surprise if Bolelli manages to improve on his record against the Spaniard.

Sam Querrey vs. Kevin Anderson

Sam Querrey is up against Kevin Anderson in the first round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Sam Querrey is looking to turn his season around here at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia following a poor run of form. The world No. 25 has only won 6 of his 15 matches this season, and hasn’t looked particularly comfortable on his serve. He will open his campaign here with a first round clash against Kevin Anderson, and needs to produce one of his better performances to get past the South African.

Anderson has played reasonably well on clay this season, but hasn’t yet managed to match his hard court exploits. The world No. 34 won the ATP Johannesburg Open title in February, and strung together a decent run in Miami. His recent form is encouraging, and he seems to have a good chance of beating his higher ranked opponent on Tuesday.

Querrey has a 3-1 head to head record against Anderson, though Anderson won the most recent meeting between the pairing. Whilst Querrey has historically had the upper hand, three of the four matches between these two players have gone into three sets. This contest could turn into a thriller, and the fans should be in for a treat on Tuesday. 

Marin Cilic vs. Ivo Karlovic

Croatian team of Marin Cilic and Ivan Ljubicic reached the quarter-finals in Madrid doubles. A match between two players who know each other game well and looks like a match where anything can happen as neither showed some consistency in singles recently.

Despite the surface is on fast side Karlovic is only 5/3 in Rome while Cilic is only 2/3. Cilic showed some form recently, especially in doubles, but Karlovic showed in Houston that can be a real threat especially if he is up on serve.

That will be the key of the match how Karlovic will serve during the match, if Karlovic will land a high percentage of first serve in will have the upper hand as Cilic isn’t the most stable player these days, but that looks more like guessing.

Igor Andreev vs. Richard Gasquet

Igor Andreev avenged his recent loss to Pere Riba, having ousted the Spaniard in straight sets. He served well and won a lot of points behind the serve and even that he lost his serve twice he created a lot of opportunities and he didn’t looked in trouble.

The Russian is a dangerous player especially when he already has two, three matches on the surface. They know each other game well, head-to-head is 4-4.

The Frenchman was never looked in trouble against Spaniard in the first round of the Italian Open, as he got early break then he never looked back. Gasquet has more variety in his game, especially with his one handed backhand, he looked in good form in first round.

Feliciano Lopez vs. Michael Llodra

Both players are in good form, Lopez made a solid match against Federer where he could feel a little bit unlucky not to won the match while Llodra after reached the quarter-finals in singles he played the final in doubles in Madrid.

Also, they split the wins over the years and overall both struggles in Rome, Lopez was 1/6 before last year when he reached the quarters with a little bit of the draw while the Frenchman is 1/4.

To be trickier they have a similar style on court based on powerful serve and net rushing but both can show some solid baseline display from time to time. The outcome of the match will be decided by a point here and there, the player who will be more consistent behind the serve will have the upper hand, Lopez is favorite because of his run last year.

Juan Monaco vs. Tomas Berdych

They just met in Madrid and Berdych imposed in two sets. Nothing changed since Madrid, only that Monaco has already played.

The Czech doesn’t excel lately and played as much as he needed, he is a good player in early rounds. The Argentine advanced further after he beat local player Seppi. He started very well with a break advance but when he lost his serve in the second he also lost the set.

Overall a good match for Monaco. Conditions are a little bit faster then Madrid which suits better to Berdych.

Ivan Ljubicic vs. Flavio Cipolla

Because of the good results this year, on clay and also on hard courts, the Italian Flavio Cipolla was gifted with a WC invitation in the main draw especially after he managed to beat an out of form Roddick. Cipolla is yet to win a match in Rome even in qualifications over the years and is 0/4 while Ljubicic has a better record in Foro Italico.

The Croat is favorite because of his powerful serve, he usually plays important tournaments and he put a lot of fight on court, he made quarter-finals in Monte Carlo beating Chardy, Tsonga and Berdych.

Cipolla will rely on his defensive baseline display, he likes to force opponent to play an extra shot but the match will stay on Ljubicic racquet, he has the power to push Cipolla way behind the baseline and will feel more comfortable on serve.

Paolo Lorenzi vs. Thomaz Bellucci

The Brazilian exploded in Madrid and was close to beat Djokovic, for a set and a half was the better player. He played an aggressive tennis all week which paid off and now will have a better morale heading to Rome and Roland Garrros.

The Italian was in good form wininig the Pereira Challenger but he slowed down a little bit but he qualified here beating Andujar while Naso withdrew.

He can be a tough player, especially when he is motivate, his serve isn’t the best but compensate with good retrieving skills and put a lot of fight and court and can stay solid in long rallies. He has a solid backhand which can resist in a cross court action, Bellucci is favorite to advance further but always the start of the tournament is a little bit tricky

Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Fabio Fognini

In an interview in Foro Italico, the Italian spoke by his physical conditions and his motivation these days. Fabio explained that the condition is not at the top and the hip is a problem that now has to live. He said he wants to play until the problem precludes the competitive activity and force him to leave permanently.

"It will be a difficult meeting but I will try to give the maximum clenching his teeth", said the Italian about his match against the Swiss.

The last encounter in Acapulco was a tough affair and in some moments it could go either way but the Italian had physical problems and handed the match.

The Swiss is in poor form for a while but in Rome his game suits well, he played the final here and last year he reached the quarter-finals. A match between two players which aren’t at their best and they might struggle a little bit until they found their rhythm.

Xavier Malisse vs. Andy Murray

Andy Murray said on Sunday that a surprise Rome International win would be the perfect preparation for the French Open as the world number four looks to shake off the effects of an elbow injury.

"I feel good, I'm playing pretty well. Monte Carlo was very good and (earlier this week in Madrid) was reasonable. I didn't even know on the Saturday night (before) if I would play but I felt a bit better each day and I've been practicing well. Monte Carlo was some of the best tennis I've played on clay and I need to keep that up", stated Murray in Foro Italico.

He will meet Malisse who managed to handle well the Spaniard Garcia-Lopez in some windy conditions, the Spaniard wasn’t at his best but Malisse made a solid match countering well. Murray has the upper hand in long rallies and the conditions will be slower in the night session, he has good retrieving skills and even that Malisse can prove a difficult task.

Jarkko Nieminen vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky

Going with the Finn in this match up as i believe odds are a bit over estimated and should be set up a bit differently.

These two have history involving them on clay courts, having played some interesting matches already and Nieminen was the winner in two ocassions, while Stakhovsky won the last time they met in nice. Back then Stakhovsky was around four underdog and this time bookies are setting him up as an evens fav-why? because he lucked it out in the third set tie break decider against hanescu, or is it because he is hot lately. Could be both but we should not forget Nieminen is the one who suits more with these courts and should normally have the advantage, in these coin flip situations.

Of course he will need to return great because he will have some difficulties calming down the strong serve of the ukranian but i believe he should use his chances from the baseline here, make Sergiy play as much from the ground and when he tries to go with his volley game, to punish it hardly with his passing shots.