ATP Rome Day 1 Predictions Including Hurkacz vs Hanfmann

The Internazionali BNL d’Italia, also known as the Italian Open, is the third and final ATP Masters 1000 on clay and is scheduled to begin in Rome on Wednesday, May 6. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate, but which players will advance to the next round?

ATP Rome Day 1 Predictions

Zachary Svajda vs Marco Trungelliti

Head-to-Head: first meeting

Zachary Svajda has had a decent year so far with a Challenger title and a couple of Tour-level wins on hard courts. However, he has never won a Tour-level match on clay and has lost all three matches on this surface this season. Marco Trungelliti is much more experienced on clay and has already made a Tour-level final this season. I am going with the Argentine on this one.
Prediction: Trungelliti in 3

Adrian Mannarino vs Damir Dzumhur

Head-to-Head: Mannarino 3-1 Dzumhur

37-year-old Adrian Mannarino will make his ninth main draw appearance at the Italian Open, and his record here is abysmal. He has never won a match at this event, and the only time he advanced to the second round was via bye. His game is not suited for the slow and high-bouncing courts here, and Damir Dzumhur should take advantage. Mannarino leads the head-to-head comfortably, but this is their first meeting on clay, where Dzumhur should thrive.
Prediction: Dzumhur in 2

Botic van de Zandschulp vs Alexandre Muller

Head-to-Head: van de Zandschulp 0-1 Muller

Botic van de Zandschulp has maintained a healthy record on clay in his career, but his best results have come at altitude conditions. He has the variety to still be good in typical clay tournaments, but his game won’t be as effective. Alexandre Muller has underperformed so far this season, but he has shown some good tennis on this surface in the past, and if he can find that level, he will be in a decent position to win this match.
Prediction: Muller in 3

Hubert Hurkacz vs Yannick Hanfmann

Head-to-Head: Hurkacz 1-0 Hanfmann

Hubert Hurkacz was on a seven-match losing streak at one point this season, but the start of the European clay swing has shifted momentum, and the Pole is playing much better tennis heading into this match. He has reached the quarterfinals in the last two editions of the Italian Open and could be a threat to many players here. Yannick Hanfmann on his day can be a dangerous prospect, but he can also be flat sometimes, which he can’t afford against Hurkacz.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3

Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports