2025 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome, Italy - Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

I reckon Fils could be your new huckleberry

Great Minds, I was thinking of Fils when he took care of Tsits yesterday

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW,
Mensik up to No 19 in the live rankings after his 64 76(2) win over Marozan earlier today. Miami champion is 12-2 at the Masters in 2025 and 19-6 at the Masters overall.

 

[kskate2]

Alcaraz, Rune and Fils have four majors combined! It is all about the company!!!

4 majors all by one of the 3, but yes the adage still stands. LOL

 

[kskate2]

Fils won, 6-2 in the 3rd. They had a discussion at the net, after the handshake. It seemed like Tsitsipas was apologizing for going straight at Fils on one point in the 3rd. Fils seemed to be clear with that, but then Tsitsipas got worked up. No one seems to understand what he was complaining to Fils about. Again, just pouty. BTW, now Fils has a 4-0 H2H over the Greek. That's probably what he's really mad about.

I watched the final set and yes, just pouty for no reason other than he's tired of these young gunz stealing his lunch $$ and his thunder.

 

[Moxie]

Lets see if the 'home crowd' can lift Berrettini to a win over Ruud his match is up next.

A scrappy match from Sinner, he got the job done over de Jong who had a bad fall,and fell twice and hurt his wrist, Jannik went straight over to a practice court, after his match,he faces the Dangerous One in his next match, he needs to play better than he did today.

Oh, no...Berrettini has to retire again. They say the ab problem. He looks pretty heartbroken. This is getting nearly tragic.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I was afraid this would happen! Berrettini retires 57 2-0 to Ruud
Ab problem for Matteo again.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh, no...Berrettini has to retire again. They say the ab problem. He looks pretty heartbroken. This is getting nearly tragic.

I thought that might happen, yep it is that ab problem that wont go away, I was relieved when he got through his match the other day

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Casper Ruud would have to be 'one of the nicest players on tour' he signed the camera
" Sorry Matteo, feel better'! also he clapped Matteo as he left the court,

 

[don_fabio]

I jinxed Mr. Glass when I said he is playing injury free for a while now. Just way too many injuries for him.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I jinxed Mr. Glass when I said he is playing injury free for a while now. Just way too many injuries for him.

It is a recurring ab injury Don, that has not healed, probably the only way to heal it, would be to take time off the tour,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Round 16 Matches
Tuesday 13th May,
Starting at 11.00 local time

Alcaraz (3) vs Khachanov (23) their match is first up on Camp Centrale, Alcaraz leads their H2H 4-0
Sinner (1) vs Cerundolo (17) H2H 2 all,
Ruud (6) vs Munar Ruud leads their H2H 4-1, this is their first meeting on clay
Musetti (8) vs Medvedev (10) Medvedev leads their H2H 2-0, this is their first meeting on clay
Zverev (2) vs Fils (13) Zverev leads their H2H 3-2
de Minaur (7) vs Paul (11) de Minaur leads their H2H 5-0
Draper (5) vs Moutet This is their first meeting
Mensik (20) vs Hurkacz Hurkacz leads their H2H 1-0, this is their first meeting on clay

 

[Moxie]

I jinxed Mr. Glass when I said he is playing injury free for a while now. Just way too many injuries for him.

He looked like he was going to cry, going off. He's one that might consider leaving off the rest of the clay season and seeing if he can come back for grass. Such a shame, as he was really getting back to form.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

He looked like he was going to cry, going off. He's one that might consider leaving off the rest of the clay season and seeing if he can come back for grass. Such a shame, as he was really getting back to form.

Matteo played a doubles match yesterday with his brother and lost, that may have triggered his abs to play up today in his singles match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW,
With his latest win in Rome, de Minaur becomes the only man to reach the last 16 of all the Masters 1000 events so far in 2025, matching Alcaraz with the most wins on tour this season

 

[Moxie]

Every time it seems Rune is turning a corner, he goes into hot mess mode. At this point, he's slipped behind Mensik and Fonseca for me, in terms of career going forward. I see him closer to Fils.

My current list in terms of who I expect to have the best careers from this point on (not including guys not yet in the top 100):

1. Sinner
2. Alcaraz
3. Fonseca
4. Mensik
5. Draper
6. Fils
7. Rune

I'd group Sinner/Alcaraz together - it could go either way, but I think they'll be close. While Sinner's a couple years older, he's also been the better player thus far and given Alcaraz's erratic performance, I'm giving Sinner the edge. Fonseca is a wildcard. He could join Sincaraz, or fall back below the next four if he doesn't develop as hoped. I still believe, though, but suspect it won't be until 2026-27 that he breaks through and wins a big title. The next four could all move around. Right now I like Mensik's upside the best, but Draper has become a really good player and Fils is still improving. If things ever click for Rune, he could be first of that group, but I've pretty much given up on him becoming the third member of a new Big Three. That ship has sailed, imo (sorry, @Jelenafan ).

After the above seven it is tricky. Tien is possible, as are other really young guys. De Minaur, Shelton, Musetti, maybe whoever ages best of the Next Genners is in the mix. I don't think Korda is going to take a big step forward and pretty much is settling in as a 10-20 guy. As for Shelton, we might now know how good he'll be for another year or two. He could basically be what he is now--a cuspy top 10 guy--or he could be fighting for a place in the top 5.

We agree on much of this, but I would say that I'd give the edge to Alcaraz, between them. He has the more varied game, and he leads their h2h. Also, Alcaraz has already won Majors on 3 surfaces, and Sinner is still confined to HCs. But who knows...could go either way.

For the rest, I'm not sure of the order, either, but it does not look like Rune will make a Big 3 out of it. He continues to struggle, with however much talent. Maybe Fonseca will be the third. Draper is beginning to look formidable, but I'm still holding on Mensik and Fils, for different reasons.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I said at the start of this season that it would be a 'telling year' for Rune. presently he is unlikely to make the Top 3
After his win in Barcelona, his first title since 2023, I became positive, though his last match in Rome, against Moutet he was a 'hot mess' over 60 UFE, his fhand was weak and he just could not serve, he even came on social media and apologized to his fans for his poor performance
Rune will play ATP500 Hamburg before RG, hopefully he will put in a better performance
Rune appears to take 'one step forward' and 2 steps back, he cannot get 'consistency' which is a key factor for building overall form and improving ranking, for someone so young he gets a lot of injuries and retires in matches, his trainer needs to get him into the gym with more strength training for starters
Draper has impressed me this year, I have always had faith in Fils, also I am liking what I see in Mensik
Fonseca has always been high on my list, he has soo much natural talent he just has to put it all together and when he does he will be a 'force' in the mens game
At present Alcaraz and Sinner remain my top 2

 

[kskate2]

He looked like he was going to cry, going off. He's one that might consider leaving off the rest of the clay season and seeing if he can come back for grass. Such a shame, as he was really getting back to form.

I think if it's a strain or a bruise, he could heal it with rest in about 2-3 weeks. If it's a tear, we're talking months. Let's hope it's not a tear.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just some up to date news regarding Berrettini had addressed the press today after he had to withdraw in his match against Ruud
It is the same injury that happened to him in Madrid, an ongoing oblique ab problem, in 2023 he did suffer a tear in his obliques
He also said he felt a sharp pain when he was playing doubles with his brother yesterday but continued
In the match today the pain had become too severe and retired, knowing if he didnt he could be out for 3 months, with Roland Garros and Wimbledon around the corner he didnt want that to happen again, he hopes he has stopped in time
At this point in time no news if he will have a scan, I am pretty confident he will, just to make sure there isnt a tear, what concerns me the most is the sharpening pain he felt.

 

[Fiero425]

Half watching Alcaraz getting abused early by Khachanov! Karen's attacking relentlessly making Carlos work! It didn't last! Carlos took 1st set

 

[Moxie]

Half watching Alcaraz getting abused early by Khachanov! Karen's attacking relentlessly making Carlos work! It didn't last! Carlos took 1st set

He tends to start slow, but turned it around, and got the break back. Draper, on the other hand, bossed by Moutet in the first, and the frenchman takes the first 6-1. Haven't watched a minute of that yet, though.