As a wise Spaniard once said, “What happened in Monte Carlo happened, what happened in Barcelona happened, and what happened in Madrid happened, so here we are–we are in Rome.” So here we really are, as the final clay-court ATP Masters event of the season is set to kick off in Rome. Although the final days of the event are the ones that make the headlines, it is the early days that set the tone, as we have a fascinating slate of matches ahead. As always, we will give predictions for every encounter, but who do you think will advance?
ATP Rome Day 1 Predictions
Zhizhen Zhang vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: Zhang 1-0 Altmaier
Physical struggles have defined much of Zhizhen Zhang’s career, and despite his strong serve and aggressive forehand, he now finds himself outside the top 200. On slow clay, this is a challenging matchup against a natural clay-courter in Daniel Altmaier, who will use his heavy topspin backhand and loopy forehand to disrupt Zhang’s rhythm. While Altmaier is not in top form either, the surface gives him the edge.
Prediction: Altmaier in 3
Fabian Marozsan vs Vit Kopriva
Head-to-head: Marozsan 1-0 Kopriva
This matchup contrasts Vit Kopriva’s baseline consistency with Fabian Marozsan’s all-court craft. Marozsan returns to the site of his famous win over Carlos Alcaraz in 2023, but on clay, Kopriva’s heavy groundstrokes and movement could give him a slight edge. In what should be a competitive encounter, Kopriva has a good chance to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Kopriva in 3
Aleksandar Vukic vs Patrick Kypson
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both players are better suited to faster surfaces, relying on big serves to generate free points, which clay tends to neutralize. However, Patrick Kypson has recently shown promise on clay, pushing top players like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini in tight matches. That confidence, along with his movement on this surface, gives him the edge here.
Prediction: Kypson in 3
Matteo Arnaldi vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-head: Munar 2-1 Arnaldi
These two players are very familiar with each other, having faced off multiple times since their Challenger days. While Matteo Arnaldi has had some success in the matchup, Jaume Munar holds the overall edge. Both enter Rome in need of a win, with Munar enduring a below-par start to 2026 after a solid 2025, and Arnaldi still searching for his first tour-level victory of the season. This match will likely be decided by baseline consistency and confidence. While Arnaldi’s athleticism and home support could give him a lift, Munar’s steadiness from the back of the court should be enough to see him through.
Prediction: Munar in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
